A CASE OF CHURG-STRAUSS-SYNDROME - TISSUE DIAGNOSIS ESTABLISHED BY SIGMOIDOSCOPIC RECTAL BIOPSY

A case is presented of Churg-Strauss syndrome in a young man in whom t he definitive diagnostic procedure was a full thickness sigmoidoscopic rectal biopsy, with submucosal sampling. Gastrointestinal changes in Churg-Strauss syndrome, a rare systemic illness characterised by asthm a, blood and tissue eosinophilia, vasculitis, and granulomatous inflam mation are common but poorly reported. The endoscopic and histopatholo gical features of a case are described and emphasise the potential val ue of a limited sigmoidoscopy in establishing the diagnosis, when lowe r gastrointestinal symptoms are present.