title: Cardiac involvement and left ventricular failure in a patient with the Churg-Strauss syndrome.
abstract: The Churg-Strauss syndrome is characterised by a history of asthma and paranasal sinus disease, eosinophilia of more than 10 per cent, non-fixed pulmonary infiltrates on chest radiography and vasculitis which may affect multiple organ systems. The condition usually manifests in the 4th decade. We present a 21-year old female with a history of asthma since one year of age who developed symptoms and signs of pneumonia, a pulmonary infiltrate on chest radiography and eosinophilia. This was followed a few weeks later by vasculitis which affected the skin and myocardium and associated with a peripheral eosinophilia of more than 80%. Physical examination revealed palpable purpura and signs of left ventricular failure. Echocardiography confirmed significant diminution of left ventricular contractility. A rapid improvement was observed after steroid therapy. Echocardiography after two months showed normal left ventricular function. In this presentation we review the cardiac manifestations of the Churg-Strauss syndrome and its management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Luke's Hospital, Guardamangia, Malta.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Azzopardi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montefort
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mallia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D004656:Enalapril; D005665:Furosemide