Cardiac Involvement in Churg-Strauss Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: The Churg-Strauss syndrome is a very rare systemic disease affecting people between 40-60 years old. It is recognized by the combination of blood eosinophilia, eosinophilic tissue infiltration, extravascular fibrinoid necrotizing (allergic) epithelioid and eosinophilic granuloma formation, and disseminated necrotizing vasculitis occurring in asthmatic patients. The diagnosis is based on well-defined criteria. The relation between blood eosinophilia and heart disease is well recognized with very heterogeneous damage. Mortality is associated with the cardiac manifestation of CSS in 50% of case. We conducted the current study to determine the prevalence and clinical impact of cardiac involvement in CSS patients. Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study about 11 patients followed in the Department of Internal Medicine of CHU Mohamed VI for Churg Strauss syndrome between the year 2017 and 2021. Results: The average age of our patients was 50 years. The sex ratio was 0, 57. The main cardiovascular risk factors were age, male sex, diabetes and hypertension, with a history of rhinitis in two patients and thyroidectomy in one patient. The diagnosis of CHURG-STRAUSS was based on the diagnostic criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology. The echocardiography was the basic examination to objectify the cardiac involvement with the following results: detection of a pericardial effusion in 2 cases, dilated cardiomyopathy in one patient and severe alteration of the ventricular function in one patient. The extracardiac injuries were divided into renal and neurological injuries. Corticosteroid therapy with Endoxan was the cornerstone of the treatment, with non-specific treatment depending on the clinical presentation.