American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What condition is known as Churg-Strauss syndrome?

1. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis

2. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis

3. Microscopic polyangiitis

4. Polyarteritis nodosa

The correct answer is: Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis

Churg-Strauss syndrome is indeed identified as eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis. This condition is characterized by a combination of asthma, eosinophilia, and systemic vasculitis, which primarily affects small to medium-sized vessels. The hallmark features of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis include the presence of asthma and eosinophilic infiltration of various tissues, leading to symptoms such as sinusitis, pulmonary involvement, and renal impairment. The vasculitis aspect can result in various systemic manifestations, including neurological and dermatological complications. Understanding that Churg-Strauss syndrome is a type of vasculitis linked with significant eosinophilic inflammation is crucial. The disease often progresses through stages involving respiratory symptoms, followed by systemic symptoms indicative of vasculitis as eosinophils infiltrate the affected organs. This differentiates it sharply from other conditions listed, as they do not feature the combination of asthma and eosinophilia as primary components. The other conditions mentioned, while they involve vasculitis, have distinct clinical presentations and pathophysiological processes. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis, for example, is associated with granulomatous inflammation and respiratory tract involvement but