[The status of Churg-Strauss syndrome among other hypereosinophilic, granulomatous and vasculitic diseases]

The Churg-Strauss syndrome is a disorder characterized by hypereosinophilia and systemic vasculitis occurring in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. Only few patients are identified as having this syndrome. The three histological criteria are necrotizing vasculitis, tissue infiltration by eosinophils, and extravascular granulomas; they often do not coexist in one patient. To find a clinical approach to diagnosis, it is necessary to exclude other disorders with hypereosinophilia, granulomas, and vasculitis. In regard to this clinical viewpoint it seems that the syndrome is not as rare as may be assumed according to the relevant autopsy findings. Two cases are reported in which the Churg-Strauss syndrome developed together with rheumatoid arthritis; in one case it was likely triggered by treatment with D-penicillamin.