50 Churg-Strauss syndrome is a systemic inflammatory disorder frequently associated with mononeuritis multiplex affecting both sensory and motor components of the peripheral nerves. We report an asthmatic patient treated with montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, who subsequently developed CSS presenting as peripheral neuropathy. Discontinuation of the medication and treatment with pr...

OBJECTIVE To examine the safety and efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) plus low-dose prednisolone for induction of remission in non life- or organ-threatening courses and for remission maintenance in Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS). METHODS In an open-label study 11 patients were treated with MTXfor induction of remission at initial diagnosis and relapse. Twenty-five patients received MTX for mainte...

OBJECTIVES We undertook a systematic literature review as a background to the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for conducting clinical trials in anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody associated vasculitis (AAV), and to assess the quality of evidence for outcome measures in AAV. METHODS Using a systematic Medline search, we categorised the identified studies according to...

Pulmonary: asthma, pneumonitis and haemoptysis. Upper respiratory tract: allergic rhinitis, paranasal sinusitis, nasal polyposis. Cardiac involvement is common. [6]This includes heart failure, myocarditis and myocardial infarction. [7] Skin: purpura, skin nodules, leukocytoclastic angiitis with palpable purpura, livedo reticularis, urticaria, necrotic bullae and digital ischaemia. Renal: glomer...

A 44 year old female nurse with a 20-year history of severe, steroid-dependent asthma, hypertension, hematuria, pleuritis, and sinusitis was referred from her ophthalmologist in January 2000, with the question of possible bilateral scleritis. The patient was treated with topical steroid (prednisolone acetate 6 times daily) for anterior uveitis, systemic prednisone (50mg per os) and steroid inha...

Pulmonary vasculitides are a diverse group of limited and systemic disorders associated with inflammation of pulmonary vessels and parenchyma. These diseases often have distinctive clinical, serological, and histopathological features-extrapulmonary sites of involvement, circulating autoantibodies, predispositions for small or large vessels, and others. Some have characteristic inflammatory les...

BACKGROUND Interferon-alpha has been successfully used for induction of remission in patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome, but data on its ability to prevent relapses and its safety during long-term use are lacking. OBJECTIVES To examine the safety and efficacy of interferon-alpha for mainten-ance of remission in Churg-Strauss syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a prospective open-label long-...