A Progressive Case of Eosinophilic Myocarditis Due to Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis in a Caucasian Male

Abstract

Vasculitis is an inflammatory process involving blood vessels of various sizes, including the small vessels in the kidneys to the large vessels, such as the aorta. This inflammatory condition is usually autoimmune in nature and is associated with involvement of many locations, such as the sinuses, lungs, kidneys, and even the heart. Specifically, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a systemic vasculitis that may initially hide as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and/or sinusitis. However, it is known to become a lethal disease once progressed to include cardiovascular manifestations. It is important to remember EGPA as a differential for any patient with a history of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and/or sinusitis who also presents with cardiovascular complaints and eosinophilia. Treatment recommendations focus on immunosuppression in such cases. In this article, we discuss the case of a 62-year-old male, with a known history of asthma, who presented to the emergency department with concern for his chest pain and right-sided weakness. He was later diagnosed with EGPA with eosinophilic myocarditis. Diagnosis and treatment are described.