What Are the Symptoms of EGPA?

EGPA can affect blood vessels in many different organs so there are a wide range of symptoms depending on which organs are affected.

Nearly everyone living with EGPA will experience these signs and symptoms:

  • Feeling frequently ill and tired
  • Loss of appetite, resulting in weight loss
  • Fever
  • Asthma and/or sinus polyps
  • A higher-than-normal level of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell

Patients can also have any number of these symptoms depending on the organ affected:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Coughing
  • Chest pain
  • Rashes on the skin
  • Muscle and/or joint pain
  • Nasal discharge
  • Facial pain
  • Abdominal pain or bloody stools
  • Numbness or loss of strength 
  • Tingling in hands and feet
  • Kidney disease

When to See Your Doctor

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with EGPA or are experiencing these symptoms, consult your healthcare provider and request an evaluation.  The Vasculitis Foundation has tools to assist in locating a care center.

How It's Diagnosed

Because EGPA is so rare and the symptoms so varied, it can be a challenge to get a correct diagnosis. A correct diagnosis may take years, which is immensely frustrating for patients seeking answers to their symptoms. 

Diagnosing EGPA will require a series of steps starting with a detailed history to uncover the unique combination of symptoms and signs that may lead your doctor to suspect EGPA and diagnostic tests that will confirm the prognosis. A typical path to diagnosis will look similar to these steps:

  • A clinical exam, where your doctor will ask about your medical history and do a physical exam. Your doctor will look for a history of asthma, allergies and other EGPA signs and symptoms. 
  • Blood tests to check your white blood count and determine if eosinophils percentages are greater than 5% of your total white blood cells.
  • An urinalysis to determine if there are too many red blood cells or protein in your urine.
  • A chest X-ray or CT scan to look for abnormalities in the lungs or sinuses. 
  • A biopsy, also called a tissue sample, may be ordered if abnormal findings are seen in the above tests to look for eosinophils, eosinophilic granulomas and/or vasculitis. 

Common Symptoms Lead to Unexpected Diagnosis

Read one woman's story of her diagnosis with EGPA.
Read more
  • Understanding Your Lung Health: EGPA

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Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel.

Page last updated: October 30, 2024

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