Churg-Strauss syndrome in a case of eosinophilia

A number of allergic, infectious and idiopathic diseases are associated with an increased number of eosinophils in blood. We report the case of a woman who was referred to our outpatient clinic due to asthma that had first developed three months previously and papular rash. Laboratory investigations revealed eosinophilia (23 %; 2,162 cells/ml). An allergic cause was ruled out by anamnesis, skin prick-test and specific IgE determination. Another frequent cause of eosinophilia is infestation by parasitic helminths, but serologic studies and studies of parasites in feces were negative. Chest radiography and computed tomography scan revealed diffuse infiltrates. The diagnosis was confirmed by transbronchial and skin lesion biopsies. The patient was finally diagnosed with Churg-Strauss syndrome and was treated with oral corticosteroids. A delay in the diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome increases the risk of death from the complications of vasculitis. Because of the importance of an early diagnosis in this disease, its presence should be suspected in cases of eosinophilia after ruling out more frequent causes.