Early diagnosis and treatment of Churg-Strauss syndrome might prevent life-threatening complications of vasculitis
Martinez, D.; Suarez, S.
Boletin de la Asociacion Medica de Puerto Rico 97(1): 69-74
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4849 Document Number: 703036
Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare vasculitic disorder manifested by bronchial asthma and sinusitis followed by eosinophilia, pulmonary infiltrates and overt vasculitis. We report a 48-year-old woman with a one-year history of bronchial asthma, eosinophilia, and elevated sedimentation rate who developed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates. Transbronchial biopsy revealed perivascular and extravascular eosinophils and thickened blood vessels. She was treated with high-dose prednisone resulting in rapid improvement of her condition. Bronchial asthma, pulmonary infiltrates and eosinophilia resolved completely. Prednisone was gradually tapered down to 5 mg daily. After two years of followup the patient has remained in almost complete remission. She did not develop other vasculitic manifestations. This report suggests that early diagnosis and treatment of CSS may prevent further disease complications.
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