In Churg-Strauss syndrome, what organ involvement occurs in about 60% of cases?

In Churg-Strauss syndrome, what organ involvement occurs in about 60% of cases?

• A. Pulmonary
• B. Cardiac
• C. Renal
• D. Neurological

Answer: (B)

Cardiac involvement is a common and clinically important feature of Churg-Strauss syndrome (eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis). The disease is an eosinophil-rich vasculitis that can affect multiple organs, and when the heart is involved, eosinophilic infiltration of the myocardium leads to myocarditis, which can progress to heart failure; the pericardium and endocardium can also be involved, causing pericarditis and arrhythmias. This involvement carries a high risk for morbidity and mortality, so it stands out as a frequent target of disease in many patient series, often reported around six in ten patients. Clinically, cardiac disease may present with chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea, or signs of heart failure, but it can also be subclinical and detected via imaging or labs (elevated eosinophils, troponin, ECG changes, reduced ejection fraction on echo, or cardiac MRI findings). Management centers on systemic immunosuppression with corticosteroids and often additional agents to control eosinophilic inflammation, which can improve cardiac outcomes if started early. While other organs such as lungs, kidneys, and nerves are also affected in Churg-Strauss, the relatively high prevalence and impact on prognosis make cardiac involvement the best-described organ involvement at this frequency.

Cardiac involvement is a common and clinically important feature of Churg-Strauss syndrome (eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis). The disease is an eosinophil-rich vasculitis that can affect multiple organs, and when the heart is involved, eosinophilic infiltration of the myocardium leads to myocarditis, which can progress to heart failure; the pericardium and endocardium can also be involved, causing pericarditis and arrhythmias. This involvement carries a high risk for morbidity and mortality, so it stands out as a frequent target of disease in many patient series, often reported around six in ten patients. Clinically, cardiac disease may present with chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea, or signs of heart failure, but it can also be subclinical and detected via imaging or labs (elevated eosinophils, troponin, ECG changes, reduced ejection fraction on echo, or cardiac MRI findings). Management centers on systemic immunosuppression with corticosteroids and often additional agents to control eosinophilic inflammation, which can improve cardiac outcomes if started early. While other organs such as lungs, kidneys, and nerves are also affected in Churg-Strauss, the relatively high prevalence and impact on prognosis make cardiac involvement the best-described organ involvement at this frequency.