CSS Syndrome: Implications And Complexities

By Jack Morgan


Churg-Strauss Syndrome is one form of a group of conditions known as vasculitis. Vasculitis diseases are conditions in which there is inflammation of the blood vessels. Churg-Strauss syndrome often occurs in patients who have a history of asthma or who often suffer from allergies. The blood vessels involved in this particular condition are small arteries and small veins. It is a highly variable condition, so therefore the course and the presentation of it widely varies from patient to patient.

Churg-Strauss Syndrome is a type of vasculitis that causes the blood vessels to become inflamed in the abdomen and the lungs as well as on the skin, it can also affect the nerve system. The actual cause of Churg-Strauss Syndrome has yet to be discovered, but in most cases it starts by affecting the immune system of asthma and bronchial sufferers. The cause has also been linked to several asthma medications known as leukotriene-modifiers although this has not been confirmed.

The syndrome consists of three main stages, Allergy, abnormally high numbers of eosinophils present in the blood & Vasculitis, but it must be noted that not all patients end up developing all of these three stages or progress from one to the next. As well, some patients are only affected mildly and get skin lesions whilst others can develop serious and sometimes life threatening diseases, such as heart disease.

Churg-Strauss Syndrome is difficult to diagnose because the amount of different symptoms it can produce, which makes it very similar to a lot of other ailments. There is currently no cure for this illness, but it can be kept under control with steroids and strong drugs.

Mid stages are marked by abnormally high numbers of eosinophils present in the blood. (hypereosinophilia) This is a type of white blood cell which are found in the tissues and in the blood. The signs of hypereosinophilia will depend on the part of the body that is affected. Most frequent it can affect the lungs and also the digestive tract. These symptoms of hypereosinophilia can include: weight loss, night sweats, cough, asthma, abdominal pain. This eosinophilic stage can last from a few months up to a few years, and its symptoms can also sometimes disappear but only to then return at a later stage.

What remains key is early detection and treatment, and lifelong monitoring. Patients can see their illness fade into remission as a result of the medications, only to have it relapse. Maintenance and therapy are vital. Complications and side-effects that can arise from long-term use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are often addressed with the prescription of vitamin D, calcium and bisphosphonates. With proper, prudent and ongoing medical monitoring, patients of this disease now have good long-term survival rates and outcomes.

The overall prognosis for sufferers of this disease is good in most cases, where on average people who seek medical attention at an early stage can recover well, but may need regular monitoring by a specialist physician. However the illness can recur, especially among those with asthma or nasal problems, whereby thirty to fifty per cent of patients do suffer a relapse of new symptoms or those similar to their original condition. In these instances it is vital to seek advice from a medical doctor, who after following examination and laboratory tests, should be able to prescribe the correct dosage of drugs in order to stabilize the disease and prevent any further development, resulting in most patients being able to continue a good normal quality of life.




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