[Churg-Strauss syndrome: outcome and long-term follow-up of 38 patients from a single Italian centre].
OBJECTIVE
This study was aimed at verifying any potential correlation between anti-myeloperoxidase antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA-MPO) and clinical features and outcome indices in Churg-Strauss Syndrome (CSS).


METHODS
Thirty-eight Churg-Strauss syndrome patients were selected from the medical records of all vasculitis patients attending the Rheumatology and Immunology Unit at the Department of Internal Medicine of the University of Pisa in the decades between 1989 and 2008. Data were analysed retrospectively. Statistical analyses of the results were carried out using the Mann-Whitney test to determine the correlations between the clinical and serological parameters. Qualitative variables were compared using contingency table analysis and Fisher's exact test.


RESULTS
ANCA-MPO were detected in15/38 (39%) patients. Positive ANCA status was associated with peripheral neuropathy (p=0.0006), whereas negative ANCA status was associated with lung involvement (p=0.002). Relapses were strongly associated with positive ANCA status (p=0.01) and with an increase in- or a reappearance of ANCA-MPO levels (p=0.006). Finally, ANCA-MPO were significantly associated with neurological damage (p=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
The presence or absence of ANCA-MPO identify different clinical subsets in CSS. Overall, ANCA-MPO appears as a useful tool in the monitoring of CSS and in particular a good predictor of CSS relapses.
Baldini
C
C
U.O. Reumatologia, Università di Pisa, 56100 Pisa, Italia. chiara.baldini74@gmail.com
Della Rossa
A
A
Grossi
S
S
Catarsi
E
E
Talarico
R
R
d'Ascanio
A
A
Mosca
M
M
Neri
R
R
Tavoni
A
A
Bombardieri
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015267:Churg-Strauss Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D015415:Biomarkers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents