[The Churg-Strauss syndrome and antileukotriene agents]

The Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS), characterized by asthma, eosinophilia and systemic vasculitis, was initially described in 1951. Criteria of recognition were defined by: Churg and Strauss (pathologic criteria), Lanham and coworkers (clinical criteria) and American College of Rheumatology (differentiation from others forms of vasculitis). CSS is often a triphasic illness and main symptoms derive from an affection of respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous and digestive systems. The pathogenesis of CSS is not clear, but it is suspected that antileukotriene agents, used in the treatment of asthma, are probably involved in. However, this association has not been unequivocally proved until now.