Churg-Strauss Syndrome

A 62-year-old patient was admitted to our hospital because of severe fatigue, headache, arthralgias, myalgias and an unsteady gait. She presented with a reduced general condition and splinter haemorrhages of the fingers. Due to a known history of asthma, signs of eosinophilia, sinusitis, endomyocardial thrombotic apposition in both chambers and neurological deterioration, the diagnosis of multisystem vasculitis (ChurgStrauss syndrome) was made. The symptoms resolved after steroid therapy. Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare necrotising systemic inflammatory vasculitis of the small and medium-size vessels. Typically, the disease has three distinct stages, which can possibly involve several organic systems (e.g., pulmonary, cardial, renal and nervous system). The treatment for ChurgStrauss syndrome includes steroids and/or other immunosuppressive drugs. After introduction of steroid therapy, the prognosis of the disease improves significantly, but heart failure remains as a major determinant of mortality.