Pathophysiology
1) systemic granulomatous disease with vasculitis of small- and medium-size arteries and veins 2) affects the lung particularly but also with GI tract, peripheral nervous system, kidney, and cardiovascular system involvement 3) exact cause is unknown but likely involves hypersensitivity reaction
Signs and Symptoms
1) fever 2) asthma 3) malaise 4) anorexia 5) weight loss 6) hematuria 7) purpura 8) cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules
Characteristic Test Findings
Laboratory – 1) striking eosinophilia 2) positive p-ANCA 3) proteinuria Radiology – 4) pulmonary infiltrates
Associated Conditions
increased incidence in long-standing asthma
Histology/Gross Pathology
1) eosinophilic tissue infiltration 2) eosinophil-laden granulomas in tissues and walls of vessels
Inheritance/Epidemiology
1) most common in middle-aged men 2) 5-year survival is 25% in untreated cases
Treatment
1) glucocorticoids in mild cases 2) cyclophosphamide in severe cases
Tips for USMLE
if there is no eosinophilia, there is no Churg-Strauss
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