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Medical Author:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In this Article

• What is Churg-Strauss syndrome?
• What causes Churg-Strauss syndrome?
• What are symptoms of Churg-Strauss syndrome?
• How is Churg-Strauss syndrome diagnosed?
• How is Churg-Strauss syndrome treated?
• What is the outlook (prognosis) for patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome?
• Churg-Strauss Syndrome At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Churg-Strauss Syndrome - Symptoms
• Find a local Pulmonologist in your town
• Churg-Strauss Syndrome Index

Churg-Strauss syndrome is suggested when the symptoms described above occur in a patient with a history of asthma.

Abnormalities of the lungs, skin, and nerves might be noted by the doctor during the examination. Blood pressure can be elevated.

Blood examination generally shows elevated levels of an uncommon white blood cell, called an eosinophil, and other white blood cells are also elevated in number. Kidney function blood tests and urinalysis can be abnormal when the kidneys are affected (which is not common).

If the lungs are inflamed, the chest x-ray image or CT scan of the chest can demonstrate areas of inflammation.

The ultimate test for the diagnosis is a biopsy of involved tissue, which demonstrates a characteristic pattern of inflammation visible under a microscope. Eosinophil are also seen accumulated in the abnormal tissue.

The treatment of patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome is directed toward both immediately quieting the inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis) and suppressing the immune system. Treatment usually includes high doses of cortisone-related medication (such as prednisone or prednisolone) to calm the inflammation and suppression of the active immune system with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan).

Traditionally, cyclophosphamide has been given for a year or more in patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome. In a research study, Churg-Strauss syndrome patients did equally well if treated with cyclophosphamide for 6 or for 12 months. This study suggests that doctors might now be able to recommend a shorter (and, therefore, less toxic) course of Cytoxan for patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome.