On admission, the clinical examination noted prolonged expiratory phase. Paraclinical tests revealed biological inflammatory syndrome, eosinophilia, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, elevated total IgE level, negative anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and proteinuria of nephritic pattern.
The pulmonary evaluation reconfirmed the obstructive ventilatory dysfunction and interstitial lung abnormalities - interlobular septal thickening and diffuse ground-glass opacification. The histopathological examination of a transbronchial biopsy specimen identified leukocytoclastic necrotizing vasculitis and tissue eosinophilia.
Provided the clinical and paraclinical setting, specifically the asthma, blood and extravascular eosinophilia, paranasal sinus abnormalities, non-fixed pulmonary infiltrates and the histopathologically confirmed necrotizing vasculitis, the diagnosis of EGPA seemed appropriate.
In the setting of lung involvement, open lung biopsy is usually required for EGPA histopathological proof, but few cases diagnosed by transbronchial biopsy have been reported. This method often identifies discrete, nonspecific lesions or an incomplete spectrum of pathognomonic abnormalities but has the advantage of minimal invasivity that justifies its use as an alternative diagnostic technique.