[Polyneuropathy in Churg-Strauss syndrome]

An acute polyneuropathy with fever and blood eosinophilia (69%) developed in a 72-year-old woman with chronic bronchial asthma and weight loss for a few months. A muscle biopsy revealed necrotizing vasculitis with numerous eosinophilic granulocytes and neurogenic atrophy. The vasculitic changes were only minor in the sural nerve and limited to the epineurium. Signs of acute nerve-fibre disintegration were marked, while some fascicles were only affected in some sectors. The clinical and histological diagnosis suggested Churg-Strauss syndrome. The polyneuropathy, eosinophilia and abnormal erythrocyte sedimentation rate quickly disappeared on administration of initially 80 mg prednisolone and 100 mg azathioprine.