[Left ventricular dysfunction in Churg-Strauss syndrome]

Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by hypereosinophilia and a systemic vasculitis occurring inpatients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. Vasculitis commonly affects the lungs, the heart, the skin, and the peripheral nervous system. Cardiac involvement is characterized by acute and constrictive pericarditis, myocarditis and endocarditis, as well as ischemic cardiomyopathy. Endomyocardial fibrosis similar to Loeffler's syndrome has been rarely described. In the presented case, a 43 year old man with a history of allergy and asthma suffered from increasing dyspnea, fever, pulmonary infiltates and cardiomyopathy. Laboratory studies were notable for marked hypereosinophilia. In a bronchoscopic lavage and transbronchial biopsy eosinophilic infiltrates accompanied by vasculitis were found, Churg-Strauss syndrome was diagnosed. Echocardiogram showed endomyocardial deposits in the apex of the right ventricle, right ventricular function was normal particular in the basal segments. The left ventricle was slightly enlarged and left ventricular function was impaired. The diastolic mitral in-flow showed a restrictive pattern. Additionally, a pericardial effusion was observed without signs of tamponade. The patient received corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and cardiomyopathy-specific therapy and showed a marked improvement after 4 months.