[Churg-Strauss vasculitis]

The author reported a clinical study of 8 cases of Churg-Strauss vasculitis which is a rare disease of unknown cause. The clinical features include allergic rhinitis (69%), sinusitis (88%), asthma (98%-100%), mononeuropathy (66%-98%), pulmonary infiltration and peripheral blood eosinophilia. The histopathologic manifestations are characterized by eosinophilic infiltration, granulomatous lesion and necrotising vasculitis. The lesions mentioned above may not appear simultaneously, but they may exist in different combinations. Therefore, not all the manifestations may be seen in a single biopsy specimen. According to the diagnostic criteria recommended by American College of Rheumatology Subcommittee on Classification of Vasculitis in 1990, 6 cases of this series can be diagnosed. The remaining 2 cases were confirmed by pathologic examination. This kind of vasculitis responds to steroid treatment with satisfactory results.