Differential diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of Churg-Strauss includes:

polyarteritis nodosa:

• there is no eosinophilia
  

• hypereosinophilic syndrome:
  • the eosinophilia is more severe than in Churg-Strauss
  • there is diffuse central nervous system disease, thromboembolism, hepatosplenomegaly, and thrombocytopaenia
  • response to steroids is poor
    
• Wegener's granulomatosis:
  • the eosinophilia and allergic features seen in Churg- Strauss are absent
  • Wegener's granulomatosis is more destructive of the upper and lower respiratory tracts

Reference

1. Mahr A et al. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss): evolutions in classification, etiopathogenesis, assessment and management. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2014 Jan;26(1):16-23.