Churg Strauss syndrome: a review

Churg Strauss syndrome is a medical condition of unknown aetiology characterized by asthma, eosinophilia and finally vasculitis involving small vessels in the limbs and nasal sinuses and the lungs. The purpose of this review is to highlight the natural history of this condition, the pathogenesis, clinical features and treatment modalities available and the prognosis.

Literature on the subject was reviewed using manual library search, articles in journals, internet search and conference abstracts.

Churg Strauss syndrome has been reported to be predominantly common in middle aged individuals in their middle age of life with a history of new onset or worsened asthma. The condition has a male predisposition. Prior to the advent of steroid therapy this condition invariably leads to death, but since the introduction of prednisolone therapy and other immunosuppressive therapy the outlook has improved for sufferers and long-term survival has been seen.

Suspicion of this condition should be based on a good history, physical examination and laboratory investigations and diagnosis based on the criteria that has been drawn by the American College of Rheumatology.