Is this an exacerbation of asthma? A cautionary tale.
Asthma exacerbations are a fairly common presentation to emergency departments. However, a careful history, clinical examination and interpretation of investigations may uncover a more serious pathology. We present an interesting case of a 44-year-old man with symptoms suggestive of an asthma exacerbation, who was found to have Churg-Strauss vasculitis/eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis. He had clinical features of a vasculitis, ECG changes and a troponin T level of 7562 ng/L. Renal biopsy confirmed Churg-Strauss vasculitis. Cardiac involvement in Churg-Strauss Syndrome (CSS) is one of the leading causes of mortality. We describe the successful diagnosis and management of a patient with CSS.
Department of General Medicine, NHS, Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.
Bharat
B
Sidhu
Uttam
U
Nanda
Shahab
S
Abbas
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001706:Biopsy; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed