Clinical characteristics and long-term outcome of patients with gastrointestinal involvement in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Gastrointestinal features of pediatric iga vasculitis and their association with renal complications: an observational study

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis is the most common systemic vasculitis in childhood, primarily affecting the skin, gastrointestinal system (GIS), joints, and kidneys. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of mild and severe GIS involvement in pediatric patients with IgA vasculitis and to investigate its association with renal involvement. A retrospective review was conducted on 794 pediatric patients diagnosed with IgA vasculitis between 1997 and 2024. Demographic data, clinical findings, and laboratory parameters were collected from patient records. GIS involvement was classified as mild (abdominal pain, vomiting, or occult blood in stool) or severe (melena, hematochezia, or intussusception). Renal involvement was defined based on hematuria, proteinuria, hypertension, or renal insufficiency. Among 794 patients, 430 (54.2%) were male, with a mean age at diagnosis of 7.8 ± 3.3 years. GIS involvement was observed in 422 (53.1%) patients, of whom 333 (78.9%) had mild GIS involvement and 89 (21.1%) had severe GIS involvement. Renal involvement was detected in 171 (21.5%) patients, and was more frequent in those with GIS involvement (26.3% vs. 16.1%, p = 0.001). GIS (55.6% (n = 306) vs. 47.1% (n = 115)) and renal (24.5% (n = 134) vs. 15.2% (n = 37)) involvement were more common in patients aged > 5 years than in patients ≤ 5 years (p = 0.027, p = 0.004, respectively). GIS involvement was significantly associated with leukocytosis (p < 0.001) and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.018), but these parameters did not correlate with renal involvement. Patients with positive fecal occult blood tests had a significantly higher risk of renal involvement (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in renal involvement between patients with mild and severe GIS involvement (p = 0.082).

CONCLUSION

GIS involvement, older age (> 5 years), and the presence of occult blood in stool were associated with a higher likelihood of renal involvement in pediatric IgA vasculitis. However, the severity of GIS involvement did not correlate with renal involvement, suggesting that renal pathology may be influenced by independent mechanisms rather than the severity of GIS symptoms.

WHAT IS KNOWN

• Older age, persistent palpable purpura, abdominal pain, GIS involvement, recurrent disease episodes are risk factors for renal involvement in IgA vasculitis.

WHAT IS NEW

• GIS involvement, fecal occult blood positivity, and age over five years were significantly associated with renal involvement in pediatric IgA vasculitis. However, the severity of GIS involvement did not predict the presence or severity of renal involvement.

Small bowel vasculitis? what a gastroenterologist should know - from diagnosis to management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article provides gastroenterologists with an overview of small bowel involvement in systemic vasculitis. Though various vasculitides can impact the small bowel, we highlight those with a more frequent and clinically significant GI involvement.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent advances, including increased accessibility to cross-sectional imaging, capsule endoscopy and device-assisted enteroscopy, have improved detection of gastrointestinal manifestations in systemic vasculitis. Studies have also explored the genetic and inflammatory pathways involved in these diseases, although high-quality evidence on diagnosis and treatment remains limited, leading to reliance on expert consensus.

SUMMARY

Small bowel involvement is common in Behçet's disease and small vessel vasculitis, presenting with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, including massive bleeding, ischemia, and perforation, often indicating a poorer prognosis. Diagnosis is challenging, but in patients with a known or suspected history of vasculitis, it should prompt contrast-enhanced abdominal imaging and endoscopic evaluation. Treatment decisions should be made collaboratively by a multidisciplinary team, with immunosuppressive therapy remaining the cornerstone.

Similarities and differences of clinical manifestations and prognosis between eosinophilic gastroenteritis and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis complicating gastrointestinal involvement

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the similarities and differences of clinical manifestations and long-term prognosis between eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) complicating GI involvement (EGPA-GI).

METHODS

Sixty-two EGE and 30 EGPA-GI patients were retrospectively enrolled in PUMCH from 2008 to 2023. Baseline clinical records were collected. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to analyzed the relapse-free and non-adverse-outcome survival rate. Logistic regression was used to construct a predictive model for diagnosing EGE and EGPA-GI.

RESULTS

Both diseases had a middle age onset. EGE had a shorter disease duration (3.5 vs. 11.0 months, p = 0.023), higher prevalence of distension (50.0% vs 20.0%, p = 0.007) and intestinal obstruction (32.3% vs 3.3%, p = 0.001), and lower prevalence of fever (6.5% vs 50.0%, p < 0.001) than EGPA-GI. EGPA-GI had higher prevalence of allergic diseases (86.7% vs 46.8%, p < 0.001) and higher IgE level (445.0 KU/L vs 153.0 KU/L, p = 0.003). Meanwhile, in EGPA-GI, higher ESR (25.0 mm/h vs 4.0 mm/h, p = 0.001) and hsCRP (48.9 mg/L vs 1.8 mg/L, p < 0.001) were observed. Asthma (OR 572.043, 95% CI 21.729-176,210.429, p = 0.0043), fever (OR 25.221, 95% CI 2.334-585.159, p = 0.0157), rash (OR 28.671, 95% CI 1.898-2274.543, p = 0.454), intestinal obstruction (OR 0.015, 95% CI 0.000-0.357, p = 0.0318), higher ESR (OR 1.101, 95% CI 1.035-1.208, p = 0.0099), and hsCRP (OR 1.038, 95% CI 1.010-1.081, p = 0.0208) were found to be independent discriminating factors for EGPA-GI. Both diseases presented recurrent courses. Adverse outcomes including GI perforation, organ failure, and all-cause death occurred in seven EGPA-GI patients while none in EGE (p = 0.00011).

CONCLUSION

Both diseases have chronic and recurrent disease courses. Clinical manifestations and laboratory tests help to discriminate them. EGPA-GI have more unfavorable prognosis compared with EGE during long-term follow-up. Key Points •Baseline characteristics and long-term prognosis of 62 EGE and 30 EGPA patients with GI involvement (EGPA-GI) were compared in this study. •Both diseases had chronic and recurrent disease duration, eosinophilia, and increased IgE level. •EGPA-GI had higher prevalence of asthma, fever, rash, higher IgE, ESR, and CRP compared with EGE. •EGPA-GI had higher risk for severe adverse outcomes.

The Impact of Churg–Strauss Syndrome on Nasal Function and Quality of Life: An Underexplored Dimension

Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA)/Churg–Strauss syndrome is a systemic vasculitis that often causes chronic nasal dysfunction, including anosmia, nasal obstruction, and sinusitis. Anosmia, affecting up to 20% of EGPA patients, has a significant negative impact on quality of life (QoL). The loss of smell disrupts daily activities, reduces enjoyment of food, and impairs social interactions, leading to feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety. These psychosocial consequences, combined with persistent physical symptoms, contribute to a marked decline in overall well-being and are among the strongest predictors of poor QoL in EGPA patients. Early diagnosis and intervention are essential to mitigate these effects and improve patient outcomes. A multidisciplinary approach that combines pharmacological treatment, surgical options, and psychosocial support is critical to managing both the physical and emotional challenges of nasal dysfunction in EGPA. However, further research is needed to explore long-term management strategies, optimize therapeutic approaches, and better address the complex interplay between physical symptoms and QoL in EGPA patients.

Gastrointestinal lesions of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a prediction model and clinical patterns

OBJECTIVE

Severe gastrointestinal lesions are associated with a poor prognosis in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). The goal of this study was to develop an effective predictive model for gastrointestinal lesions and to examine clinical patterns, associated factors, treatment, and outcomes of gastrointestinal lesions in EGPA.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 165 EGPA patients. The independent associated factors were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. A nomogram was conducted to quantify the predictive factors. The correlation between different organ lesions was calculated to explore the clinical patterns.

RESULTS

A total of 52 patients had gastrointestinal lesions, and 22 developed severe disorders. Common manifestations included abdominal pain (78%), diarrhea (40.4%), and nausea and/or vomiting (32.7%). Severe gastrointestinal lesions included hemorrhage (26.9%), ulcers (17.3%), obstruction (9.6%), and pancreatitis (5.8%). Eosinophilic tissue infiltration, weight loss, and myalgia were independently associated with gastrointestinal involvement. Patients with severe gastrointestinal lesions had a shorter duration from initial symptoms to EGPA diagnosis, less frequent asthma, and ear-nose-throat involvement, and were more likely to receive methylprednisolone pulse. Weight loss, central nervous system involvement, myalgia, and eosinophilic tissue infiltration were retained in the nomogram. An eosinophil ratio of over 19.2% identified gastrointestinal lesions. Significantly more patients with gastrointestinal involvement had a Five Factor Score ≥ 2. Five well-defined clinical models were identified, including the brain-gut pattern.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe gastrointestinal lesions are common in EGPA and early detection is critical. Eosinophils are an important factor associated with gastrointestinal involvement of EGPA. We developed a model to predict the risk of gastrointestinal lesions. The brain-gut pattern might deserve further investigation in EGPA.

Heterogeneity and individualized therapy for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), as a heterogeneous component of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis, may be induced by a series of environmental and genetic factors, involved with a variety of immune cells and immune components, and presented with various clinical manifestations, with multiple organs and systems (respiratory, skin, heart, kidney, nerve, etc.) involved. The choice of glucocorticoid (GC) dosage and immunosuppressant in traditional treatment strategies varies greatly from individual to individual and is not universally applicable in all the EGPA phenotype spectrum, especially in relapsing or refractory diseases. With the understanding of the heterogeneity of EGPA, a variety of therapeutic approaches are emerging and improving the traditional treatment model. In this review, we summarized the heterogeneity of EGPA etiology and pathogenesis. Clinical and pathological manifestations of the same organ involved also show significant differences and there are even gender differences. Biological treatments that mainly target type 2 inflammatory pathways are widely used in clinical practice for remission induction and maintenance of EGPA. Targeted biological therapy has shown excellent performance in reducing GC dosage and controlling symptoms and recurrence. However, a large number of high-quality randomized controlled studies are still under research for relapsing or refractory EGPA with special organ involvement. We believe that EGPA has a highly heterogeneous phenotype spectrum, and the treatment patterns targeting key molecules in the pathogenesis are of great value for individual treatment of EGPA.

Bullous Vasculitis in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Case Report

Introduction

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare systemic vasculitis affecting small- and medium-sized vessels. It is characterized by multiorgan involvement and can lead to severe outcomes if not diagnosed promptly. Cutaneous manifestations are common and typically include palpable purpura and subcutaneous nodules. Widespread bullous vasculitis affecting areas such as the forehead and ear presents an atypical presentation. We report a case of EGPA presenting with bullous vasculitis in an unusual location.

Case Presentation

A 40-year-old woman with a history of late-onset allergic rhinitis presented with a 2-week history of numbness in her right leg, along with multiple erythematous papules and vesicles, some with shallow erosions, located on the forehead and left ear. She also experienced fever, progressive dyspnea, and hemoptysis. She was diagnosed with pneumonitis, alveolar hemorrhage, and mononeuritis of the right leg. Laboratory findings revealed leukocytosis with eosinophilia, and the anti-myeloperoxidase antibody was positive. Histopathological examination of the bullous lesion on the forehead showed intraepidermal separation with necrotic keratinocytes and prominent eosinophil infiltration, along with focal leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The patient was diagnosed with EGPA and started on intravenous steroids and cyclophosphamide. EGPA is a rare disease characterized by multiorgan vasculitis, asthma, and granulomatous eosinophilic inflammation, which are its key hallmarks. While cutaneous involvement is common, bullous vasculitis is rarely observed on the forehead and ear.

Conclusions

EGPA is a challenging diagnosis due to its variable presentation. While cutaneous manifestations are common, widespread bullous vasculitis may be atypical and rare clinical presentation. This case underscores the importance of considering EGPA in the differential diagnosis of bullous vasculitis, particularly when associated with systemic symptoms and eosinophilia. Early recognition and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes in this potentially life-threatening condition.

A variety of clinical presentations of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a comprehensive review

Introduction

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is characterized by eosinophilic granulomatous vasculitis. Typical symptoms include late-onset bronchial asthma and blood and tissue eosinophilia. In addition to these characteristic symptoms, EGPA can affect important organs such as the skin, kidneys, heart, sinuses, gastrointestinal tract, and nervous system. Given the variability of the clinical presentation, EGPA is challenging to diagnose. Furthermore, EGPA often occurs in phases, with clinical manifestations and pathological findings varying depending on the affected anatomic site and stage of disease.

Material and methods

The authors reviewed the SCOPUS, MEDLINE, and PubMed medical databases to prepare an overview of the clinical manifestations and diagnosis for EGPA.

Results

This comprehensive review examines the current knowledge on the clinical course of EGPA, diagnostic options and prognostic factors.

Conclusions

We highlight the diverse organ involvement observed in EGPA, particularly in association with eosinophilic and vasculitic manifestations. Our findings underscore the importance of anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody status as a potential key factor influencing disease presentation.

Mepolizumab exerts crucial effects on glucocorticoid discontinuation in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a retrospective study of 27 cases at a single center in Japan

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the efficacy of mepolizumab in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and factors contributing to glucocorticoid (GC) discontinuation.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied EGPA patients treated with mepolizumab who were on GC at the time of induction of mepolizumab, at Japanese single center as of January 2023. Patients were classified into those who were able to discontinue GC at the time of the investigation (GC-free group) and those who continued (GC-continue group). Patient characteristics at the time of EGPA diagnosis (age, gender, absolute eosinophil counts, serum CRP level, serum IgE level, Rheumatoid factor (RF) / anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positivity, presence of asthma, affected organ, Five factor score (FFS), Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) and characteristics at the time of mepolizumab induction (daily prednisolone dose, concomitant immunosuppressive maintenance therapy at the mepolizumab induction, prior history of GC pulse therapy, concomitant immunosuppressive therapy for remission induction,), history of relapse before mepolizumab induction and the duration of mepolizumab treatment were compared. We also followed the clinical indicators (absolute eosinophil counts, CRP and IgE levels, BVAS, Vascular Damage Index (VDI)) and daily prednisolone dosage at the EGPA diagnosis, at the mepolizumab induction and at the survey.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patients were included in the study. At the time of the study, patients had received mepolizumab for median 31 months (IQR, 26 to 40), the daily prednisolone dose was median 1 mg (IQR, 0 to 1.8) and GC-free was achieved in 13 patients (48%). Among clinical indicators that have improved by conventional therapy before the induction of mepolizumab, eosinophil counts, GC doses and BVAS have successively shown significant reductions throughout the observation period both GC-free and GC-continue. Of the GC-free patients, 7 were ANCA positive and 12 had FFS1 or more. Univariate analysis showed that the absolute eosinophil counts at diagnosis was significantly higher in the GC-free group (median 8165/µl (IQR, 5138 to 13,409) vs. 4360/µl (IQR, 151 to 8380), P = 0.037) and significantly fewer patients presented with gastrointestinal lesions (2 (15%) vs. 8 (57%), P = 0.025), while multivariate analysis showed no significant differences. Mepolizumab treatment significantly improved VDI in the GC-continue group (P = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

After three years of treatment with mepolizumab, approximately 50% of patients with EGPA achieved GC-free status. GC could be discontinued even in severe cases and ANCA-positive cases. Although multivariate analysis did not extract any significant factors contributing to achieving GC-free, we found that improvement in eosinophil counts and BVAS led to GC reduction, resulted in protection of organ damages in both the GC-free and continuation groups. The significance of achieving GC-free remission in EGPA patients was demonstrated.