Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a serious and chronic blood vessel condition. Also known as Churg-Stause Syndrome, EGPA results in inflammation in your blood vessels that can impede or block the flow of blood throughout the body. Although this condition is extremely rare, there’s no known cure for it, and EGPA can cause death if it’s left undiagnosed and untreated. While it can affect any part of the body, EGPA most commonly affects the lungs.
Constant and steady blood flow is essential for every aspect of a properly functioning human body. Therefore, when your blood vessels become inflamed, and blood flow is reduced, it affects how your lungs can function. This includes nasal and breathing problems, lung failure, and much more.
EGPA affects everyone differently because it does not always cause inflammation in the same blood vessels. As a result, it’s possible for everyone with this condition to have different signs and symptoms. There are, however, a few symptoms that most people will have at one point or another if they have EGPA.
There are many other potential symptoms of EGPA, depending on which organs and parts of the body are affected. However, these are the most common symptoms you will experience because EGPA almost always impacts the lungs.
Unfortunately, the exact cause of EGPA is unknown, and experts are not sure why some people are more at risk than others. It’s suspected, however, that a combination of medications, environmental factors, genetics, and the immune system plays a role.
The going theory is that your immune system malfunctions and has an adverse reaction to certain medications or allergens in the environment. Because of genetic factors, however, rather than attacking the allergen or medication, your immune system attacks healthy parts of the body. This, in turn, leads to inflammation in the blood vessels resulting in EGPA.
If left undiagnosed and untreated, EGPA can lead to lung failure and eventual death. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment are essential. While it can be tough to diagnose, here are some of the tests your doctor will use to diagnose EGPA.
Certain imaging tests, such as X-rays and CT scans, will show if there are issues with your lungs.
A blood test will reveal if you have an elevated white blood cell count, which is a sign of EGPA.
A urine sample will reveal if you have excess red blood cells in your urine, another sign of EGPA.
You may also require a lung biopsy to extract a small lung sample for further testing to confirm a diagnosis.
These tests, combined with a thorough health history, physical examination, and examination of your symptoms, are usually enough for a diagnosis.
While there’s no cure for EGPA, there are treatment options that can help you lead a fairly normal and long life. Most commonly, your doctor will prescribe steroids to reduce inflammation in your blood vessels and restore normal blood flow. If more medication is necessary, you may also need an immunosuppressive drug to keep your immune system under control.
Finally, it’s also a good idea to incorporate lifestyle changes into your treatment plan. Exercise, a healthy diet, and calcium supplements are good ways to fortify your immune system and protect your bones. They can also help mitigate the side effects of the medications you’re taking to treat EGPA.