A 50-year-old man with eosinophilia and cardiomyopathy: need for endomyocardial biopsy?
Lars Aakerøy1, Brage Høyem Amundsen, Johan Fredrik Skomsvoll
1Department of Cardiology, St Olavs University Hospital,Trondheim, Norway. lars.aakeroy@stolav.no
Insights
A man with suspected heart attack had normal coronary angiogram but was diagnosed with Churg-Strauss syndrome causing perimyocarditis. This case highlights diagnostic challenges in cardiac manifestations of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
- Pathology
Background:
- Acute coronary syndrome is a common presentation for cardiac emergencies.
- Churg-Strauss syndrome, also known as eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, is a rare systemic vasculitis.
Observation:
- A 50-year-old male presented with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome.
- Coronary angiography revealed no significant blockages.
- The patient exhibited cardiomyopathy and peripheral eosinophilia.
Findings:
- The diagnosis was perimyocarditis secondary to Churg-Strauss syndrome.
- Eosinophilic infiltration of the myocardium is a known, though uncommon, feature of this syndrome.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering systemic inflammatory conditions in patients with cardiac symptoms and eosinophilia.
- The diagnostic utility and timing of endomyocardial biopsy in such presentations warrant further discussion.
Abstract:
A 50-year-old man was admitted with a suspected acute coronary syndrome. The coronary angiogram, however, was normal. He was found to have a cardiomyopathy and eosinophilia. The diagnosis was established as a perimyocarditis secondary to the Churg-Strauss syndrome. An important question is whether an endomyocardial biopsy should have been performed.
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