title: [Churg-Strauss Vasculitis. Description of 9 cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Churg-Strauss Síndrome (SCS) is a necrotizing vasculitis affecting small to medium-sized vessels, characterized by lung involvement, asthma and peripheral blood eosinophilia, and pathologically by the presence of granulomas and eosinophilic infiltrates.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This report analizes the characteristics of 9 patients with SCS diagnosed in an university referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study. Between 1984 and 2007 nine patients with SCS were diagnosed in our center. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory test as well as pathologic studies and treatment required were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients (7 males). The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 51 years (range 23-76 years). Eight of these patients had history of asthma. The more frequent organs involved were the skin (66%), musculoesqueletical system (66%), peripheral nervous system (55%) and the lung (55%). All patients presented peripheral eosinophilia. ANCA positivity was demonstrated in 6 patients (66%), most of the patients with the p-ANCA pattern. All patients were treated with corticosteroids, and in 8 immunosupressant treatment was required, mainly cyclophosphamide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this report, 9 patients with SCS are presented. Clinical characteristics are similar with the observed in other reports. We observed a major positivity of ANCA. Most of the patients were treated with corticosteroids and inmunosupresants, but the treatment should be tailored depending on the involvement of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Reumatología, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Melchor
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mínguez Blasco
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moltó Revilla
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mateo Soria
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holgado Pérez
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olivé Marqués