Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis(EGPA; Churg-Strauss syndrome): Treatments
Differential diagnosis The most common diseases are aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), hypereosinophilic syndrome, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's), microscopic polyangiitis, eosinophilic pneumonia and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. In AERD, asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, and hypersensitivity to aspirin or NSAID, which are bronchoconstriction, rhinorrhea and nasal congestion. Serum eosinophilia may also increase, but eosinophilic pneumonia and other organ involvement are not seen. AERD can evolve into EGPA, so proper management is essential. Chronic eosinophilic pneumonia may be difficult to differentiate because of its clinical features similar to those of EGPA. However, there is no characteristic granuloma on histologic examination and there is no other organ penetration except the lung. Patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) may have cough and pulmonary infiltration, but asthma is rare. In order to differentiate, ...