Churg-Strauss syndrome other diagnostic studies

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

The following studies can be helpful in diagnosing eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.^[1]^[2]

Pulmonary function tests:
- Spirometry findings are consistent with asthma.
  - Decreased total vital capacity
  - Decreased functional vital capacity
  - Decreased FEV1/FVC ratio
  - Decreased diffusion capacity
Bronchoalveolar lavage:
- Shows marked eosinophilia. Presence of marked eosinophilia on bronchoalveolar lavage is not specific for the diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Biopsy
- Because of the multiple organ involvements, the biopsy should be obtained from any of the following organ sites:
  - Lung:
    - The gold standard in establishing a diagnosis for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a lung biopsy. surgical or transbronchial biopsy can be performed.^[3]
  - Skin
  - Nerve
  - Kidney
  - Muscle
- Biopsy findings may include eosinophilic infiltration, vasculitis of small and medium-sized vessels and granuloma formation.

↑ Meyer KC, Raghu G, Baughman RP, Brown KK, Costabel U, du Bois RM, Drent M, Haslam PL, Kim DS, Nagai S, Rottoli P, Saltini C, Selman M, Strange C, Wood B (May 2012). “An official American Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline: the clinical utility of bronchoalveolar lavage cellular analysis in interstitial lung disease”. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 185 (9): 1004–14. doi:10.1164/rccm.201202-0320ST. PMID 22550210.
↑ Dunogué B, Pagnoux C, Guillevin L (June 2011). “Churg-strauss syndrome: clinical symptoms, complementary investigations, prognosis and outcome, and treatment”. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 32 (3): 298–309. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1279826. PMID 21674415.
↑ Allen JN, Davis WB (1994). “Eosinophilic lung diseases”. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 150 (5 Pt 1): 1423–38. doi:10.1164/ajrccm.150.5.7952571. PMID 7952571.