[Churg-Strauss syndrome].
BACKGROUND
The Churg-Strauss syndrome, also known as allergic granulomatosis with angiitis, is a rare necrotizing vasculitis with unknown pathogenesis. The necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis involves small and medium-sized arteries, capillaries and veins, leading to the characteristic changes of intra- and extravascular, eosiniphilic granulomas, accompanied by clinically symptoms: bronchial asthma, hypereosinophilia and fever. Ocular manifestations are rarely reported.


METHODS
A 53-year-old woman suffered from bronchial asthma, relapsing lung infiltrates and sinusites since 1994. In August 1997 she suddenly disclosed vasculitic skin manifestations on both legs and a mononeuritis of the left peroneus nerve. At the same time visual acuity of the right eye decreased, before she had shown some attacks of amaurosis fugax. The funduscopy showed a central retinal artery occlusion.


RESULTS
blood eosinophilia of 20%, elevated IgE value to 396 kU/l (normal value < 120 kU/l), and negative parameters for antineutrophil cytoplasmatic antibodies (p- and c-ANCA).


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical and laboratory findings are characteristic signs for the Churg-Strauss syndrome. Without such typical manifestations the histologic examination leads to the diagnosis and helps to differentiate this disease from other necrotizing vasculitides, e.g. panarteriitis nodosa or Wegener's granulomatosis.
Stübiger
N
N
Abteilung für allgemeine Augenheilkunde, Universitäts-Augenklinik Tübingen.
Schlote
T
T
Kötter
I
I
Zierhut
M
M
D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000175:diagnosis; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004338:Drug Combinations; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine