Charcot-Leyden crystals

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 2 Apr 2020

Charcot-Leyden crystals consist of collections of bipyramidal crystalloid made up of eosinophilic membrane proteins, which occur in: 

They may be detected in the sputum or sinus secretions with these conditions.

History and etymology

Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893) was trained as a pathologist, but he was also a skilled practising physician, and for many the father of neurology - who also made important contributions to psychiatry. He also has the distinction of probably having more medical eponyms named for him than any other individual in history 4,5.

The German physician Ernst Viktor von Leyden also described these crystals in 1872 6.

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