Diagnosis
The criteria for diagnosis of this syndrome has been outlined by the American College of Rheumatology. The six classification criteria identified in the study were: (1)
- asthma
- peripheral blood eosinophilia
- neuropathy
- pulmonary infiltrates
- paranasal sinus involvement
- biopsy showing vasculitis with extravascular eosinophils
The presence of four of these criteria permitted discrimination of Churg-Strauss syndrome from other vasculitides with a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 99.7%.
Laboratory diagnosis is based on tissue biopsy and the antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) test
- serologically, the prevalence of ANCA is anti-MPO pANCA 60% and anti-PR3 cANCA 10% and undetected in the remaining 20% (2)
This syndrome is also characterised by elevated levels of IgE.
Reference:
- Jennette JC et al. Nomenclature of systemic vasculitides. Proposal of an international consensus conference. Arthritis Rheum. 1994 Feb;37(2):187-92
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