EGPA rare disease requires early diagnosis and biological therapies

During the XXVII National Congress of the Italian Society of Pulmonology in Rome, researcher Maria D’Amato emphasized the critical importance of early diagnosis for EGPA (eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis). This rare and serious disease often presents initially as severe asthma, which may be resistant to standard inhaled corticosteroids.

D’Amato warned that failing to recognize the condition early can lead to irreversible organ damage. Key clinical indicators for suspicion include steroid-dependent asthma, rhinosinusitis associated with nasal polyposis, and significant eosinophilia, typically exceeding 1,000 cells per microliter.

Effective management requires a multidisciplinary approach involving pulmonologists, immunologists, and rheumatologists. Once appropriate treatments, including tailored biological therapies, are established at specialized centers, patient management can gradually transition to local healthcare settings.