scholarly journals Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis: Dissecting the Pathophysiology

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Filippo Fagni ◽  
Federica Bello ◽  
Giacomo Emmi
Keyword(s):  
Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Vascular Inflammation ◽  
Organ Damage ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽  
Tissue Eosinophilia ◽  
Research Perspectives ◽  
Distinct Disease ◽  
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare multisystemic disease classified both amongst hypereosinophilic disorders and ANCA-associated vasculitis. Vessel inflammation and eosinophilic proliferation are the hallmarks of the disease and main effectors of organ damage. Two distinct disease phenotypes have classically been described according to ANCA-status: the ANCA-negative subset with eosinophil-driven manifestation and the ANCA-positive one with vasculitic manifestations. An analogous dichotomization has also been backed by histological findings and a distinct genetic background. EGPA is typically consider a Th2-mediated disease and blood and tissue eosinophilia represent the cornerstone of diagnosis. Besides, ANCA are known for inducing endothelial injury and vascular inflammation by activating the circulating neutrophils. Thus, the pathogenesis of EGPA seems to be mediated by two coexisting mechanisms. However, the verbatim application of this strict dualism cannot always be translated into routine clinical practice. In the present review we describe the current knowledge on the eosinophilic and ANCA-mediated aspects of EGPA pathogenesis. Finally, we review the rationale of the currently proposed EGPA dichotomy and future research perspectives.

scholarly journals Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: Diagnostic Dilemmas

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-68
Author(s):  
Delia Tulbă ◽  
Răzvan Adrian Ionescu ◽  
Daniela Gologanu ◽  
Marius Ioan Balea ◽  
Simona Caraiola
Keyword(s):  
Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽  
Histopathological Examination ◽  
Systemic Vasculitis ◽  
Transbronchial Biopsy ◽  
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽  
Imaging Features ◽  
Necrotizing Vasculitis ◽  
Tissue Eosinophilia ◽  
Lung Abnormalities ◽  
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis

AbstractIntroduction. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome, is a systemic vasculitis of the small vessels that often associates asthma and blood/tissue eosinophilia.Case presentation. A 58-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for progressive exertional dyspnea. She had been diagnosed with asthma three years earlier. Recent multiple thoracic computed tomography scans displayed non-fixed interstitial lung abnormalities, whereas the infectious workup (HIV, parasites) was negative.On admission, the clinical examination noted prolonged expiratory phase. Paraclinical tests revealed biological inflammatory syndrome, eosinophilia, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, elevated total IgE level, negative anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and proteinuria of nephritic pattern.The pulmonary evaluation reconfirmed the obstructive ventilatory dysfunction and interstitial lung abnormalities - interlobular septal thickening and diffuse ground-glass opacification. The histopathological examination of a transbronchial biopsy specimen identified leukocytoclastic necrotizing vasculitis and tissue eosinophilia.Provided the clinical and paraclinical setting, specifically the asthma, blood and extravascular eosinophilia, paranasal sinus abnormalities, non-fixed pulmonary infiltrates and the histopathologically confirmed necrotizing vasculitis, the diagnosis of EGPA seemed appropriate.Conclusion. In the absence of diagnostic criteria, EGPA diagnosis is often challenging. Although certain clinical and imaging features could assist the diagnosis, biopsy remains the diagnostic gold standard.In the setting of lung involvement, open lung biopsy is usually required for EGPA histopathological proof, but few cases diagnosed by transbronchial biopsy have been reported. This method often identifies discrete, nonspecific lesions or an incomplete spectrum of pathognomonic abnormalities but has the advantage of minimal invasivity that justifies its use as an alternative diagnostic technique.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: understanding the disease and its management

Rheumatology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii84-iii94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Trivioli ◽  
Benjamin Terrier ◽  
Augusto Vaglio
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Small Vessel ◽  
Small Vessel Vasculitis ◽  
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽  
Mononeuritis Multiplex ◽  
Persistent Symptoms ◽  
Tissue Eosinophilia ◽  
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis

Abstract Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis is characterized by asthma, blood and tissue eosinophilia and small-vessel vasculitis. The clinical presentation is variable, but two main clinic-pathologic subsets can be distinguished: one hallmarked by positive ANCA and predominant ‘vasculitic’ manifestations (e.g. glomerulonephritis, purpura and mononeuritis multiplex) and the other by negative ANCA and prominent ‘eosinophilic’ manifestations (e.g. lung infiltrates and cardiomyopathy). The pathogenesis is not fully understood but probably results from the interplay between T and B cells and eosinophils. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis must be differentiated from several conditions, including hypereosinophilic syndromes and other small-vessel vasculitides. The overall survival is good; however, patients frequently relapse and have persistent symptoms. The recently developed monoclonal antibodies targeting B cells and eosinophilopoietic cytokines such as IL-5 are emerging as valid alternatives to conventional immunosuppressive therapies. In this review, we discuss the essential features of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, with particular respect to the most relevant issues concerning clinical presentation and management.

scholarly journals Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis Presenting with Myocarditis as an Initial Symptom: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
pp. 329-333
Author(s):  
Kanako Kurihara ◽  
Jun Tsugawa ◽  
Shinji Ouma ◽  
Toshiyasu Ogata ◽  
Mikiko Aoki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽  
Nerve Biopsy ◽  
Pulse Therapy ◽  
Sural Nerve Biopsy ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Rapid Progression ◽  
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽  
Initial Symptom ◽  
Steroid Pulse ◽  
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis

A 66-year-old woman with a history of bronchial asthma had shortness of breath and fatigue upon mild exercise. She was diagnosed as congestive heart failure. A blood test showed eosinophilia without the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), and a myocardial biopsy specimen revealed eosinophilic infiltration in the myocardium. Eosinophilia was improved when she was administered short-term methylprednisolone. After that, she had numbness and pain in her lower limbs with re-elevation of eosinophils. She had dysesthesia and hypalgesia in the distal part of the limbs. Sural nerve biopsy revealed axonal degeneration and thickness of the arterial wall, indicating a diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Two courses of steroid pulse therapy were performed, resulting in marked improvement of her sensory symptoms. ANCA-negative EGPA might be associated with myocarditis and peripheral neuropathy. A sufficient immunotherapy should have been considered to prevent rapid progression.

scholarly journals Eosinophilic Cholecystitis Associated with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 668-674
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Ito ◽  
Yusuke Mishima ◽  
Tsubomi Cho ◽  
Naoki Ogiwara ◽  
Yoshimasa Shinma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Hemorrhage ◽  
Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽  
Epigastric Pain ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Gallbladder Wall ◽  
Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies ◽  
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Laboratory Investigations ◽  
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis

We report a case of eosinophilic cholecystitis associated with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) complicated by cerebral hemorrhage. A 60-year-old man presented to a local hospital with a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, with persistent fever and epigastric pain for 2 weeks. His symptoms persisted despite 3-week hospitalization; therefore, he was transferred to our hospital for further evaluation. Laboratory investigations upon admission showed white blood cells 26,300/µL and significant eosinophilia (eosinophils 61%). Abdominal computed tomography revealed no gallbladder enlargement but a circumferentially edematous gallbladder wall. Additional blood test results were negative for antineutrophil cytoplasmic and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies; however, immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgE levels were high at 1,953 mg/dL and 3,040/IU/mL, respectively. He improved following endoscopic transnasal gallbladder drainage for cholecystitis and was diagnosed with EGPA and received corticosteroid and immunosuppressant combination therapy. The eosinophil count decreased immediately after treatment, and abdominal pain and numbness resolved. He returned with left-sided suboccipital hemorrhage likely attributed to EGPA 6 months after discharge. EGPA is characterized by inflammation of small blood vessels and clinically manifests with an allergic presentation of bronchial asthma, as well as renal dysfunction, interstitial pneumonia, enteritis, and cerebral hemorrhage. Few reports have described cholecystitis as a presenting symptom of EGPA. We report a rare case of such a presentation with added considerations.

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