Churg-Strauss Syndrome and desensitization therapy, a case report and brief review of literature

ABSTRACT

A 55 year old Saudi male with bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis presented with a palpable purpuric skin rash, mononeuritis multiplex and marked eosinophilia developing during allergic desensitisation therapy. Based on the above finding a clinical diagnosis of Churg-Strauss Syndrome was made. The patient responded very well to steroids and cyclophosphamide. It has been postulated that repeated antigenic stimulation such as repeated injections of allergens during desensitisation therapy, drugs or parasitic infections may provoke systemic vasculitis in atopic individuals. In this article, we present the first reported case from Saudi Arabia with Churg-Strauss syndrome developing during desensitisation therapy. Until further proof, clinicians should be aware that allergic desensitisation therapy can rarely be complicated by Churg-Strauss Syndrome