Testicular vasculitis in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a case-based review

Clin Rheumatol. 2023 Jan;42(1):293-299. doi: 10.1007/s10067-022-06453-z. Epub 2022 Nov 21.

Abstract

Testicular vasculitis (TV) develops when an organ is involved in systemic vasculitis. A 47-year-old man with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) developed TV as the first clinical episode. The patient had bronchial asthma for 8 years and developed left testicular pain before developing arthralgia, abdominal involvement, and sensory polyneuropathy, which led to the diagnosis of EGPA. The induration of the affected testicle persisted even after initiating immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, raising concern for testicular neoplasm, while testicular pain and other symptoms resolved. The patient underwent inguinal orchiectomy, and a histology examination of the resected testicle revealed fibrinoid necrotizing vasculitis. Only three cases of biopsy-proven TV in patients with EGPA have been reported in our review of published English-language articles. Two of the three patients in the reviewed cases developed TV before being diagnosed with EGPA. Moreover, all patients underwent extirpation of the affected testicle, leading to a pathological diagnosis of TV. This report suggests that TV may develop and be the presenting condition in EGPA, although urogenital involvement is rare.

Keywords: Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis; Testicular pain; Testicular vasculitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Churg-Strauss Syndrome* / complications
  • Churg-Strauss Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Churg-Strauss Syndrome* / drug therapy
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis* / complications
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis* / diagnosis
  • Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Testis

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones