diagnosis
Last reviewed 01/2018
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:
- 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 vasculitidies 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:
- (1) Mais AT et al.Arthritis Rheum 1990; 33: 1094-1100.
- (2) Davies DJ. Small vessel vasculitis. Cardiovascular Pathology 2005; 14 (6): 335-346.
- (3) Savage COS. Systemic vasculitides.Medicine International 1994;22(2): 53-7.