What is eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, formerly Churg-Strauss Syndrome)?

What is eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, formerly Churg-Strauss Syndrome)?

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA, formerly Churg-Strauss Syndrome) is a disease caused by inflammation (swelling) that occurs in certain types of cells in your blood or in your tissues. Everyone who gets EGPA has a history of asthma and/or allergies. It can affect many of your organs.

Almost all people with EGPA have increased numbers of "allergic type" blood cells called eosinophils. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell that usually make up 5% or less of the total white blood cell count. In EGPA, eosinophils usually make up more than 10% of the total white blood cell count. In addition, most biopsies (tissue samples) contain clusters of cells called "granulomas" that may or may not involve blood vessels.