Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a type of vasculitis. It causes asthma to develop in adults, followed by inflammation of the blood vessels caused by swellings called granulomas. There will also usually be a high number of eosinophils (a particular type of white cell) in the blood.

The condition differs from granulomatosis with polyangiitis because of the asthma. Unlike granulomatosis with polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis rarely causes damage to your ears and nose.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis can also affect the nerves, causing weakness, pins and needles or numbness.

There's also a higher risk of your heart being involved, which can sometimes cause damage to the heart muscle similar to the damage that occurs during a heart attack.

This disease was previously called Churg–Strauss syndrome after the doctors who were thought to have discovered it. The new name describes the features of the disease – eosinophils, granulomata and involvement of many blood vessels.

Find out more about vasculitis.