Which laboratory finding would support a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis?

Increased white blood cell count (WBC) is a significant laboratory finding that supports the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. This condition is typically characterized by inflammation of the gallbladder, often due to obstruction of the cystic duct, commonly from gallstones. The body's response to this inflammation usually manifests as a rise in the number of white blood cells, which play a critical role in the immune response to infection and inflammation.

In acute cholecystitis, the elevated WBC count indicates the presence of an inflammatory process. Specifically, a WBC count greater than 10,000 cells/mm³ is frequently observed in cases of cholecystitis, reflecting the body's efforts to combat the inflammatory response initiated by the gallbladder's irritation or infection.

While decreased blood pressure, elevated liver enzymes, and increased serum glucose levels can indicate other conditions or complications, they are not specifically indicative of acute cholecystitis. Decreased blood pressure may signal hypotension due to severe inflammation or sepsis, elevated liver enzymes can suggest cholestasis or liver injury sometimes associated with gallbladder disease but are not definitive for cholecystitis, and increased serum glucose levels can occur due to stress or infection but do not