Necrotizing myocardial vasculitis in Churg-Strauss syndrome: clinicohistologic evaluation of steroids and immunosuppressive therapy

Chest. 1998 Nov;114(5):1484-9. doi: 10.1378/chest.114.5.1484.

Abstract

Treatment of cardiac dysfunction associated with Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is empiric since the histologic findings provided by endomyocardial biopsy are rare and often nondiagnostic. Myocardial necrotizing vasculitis presenting as restrictive cardiomyopathy has not been reported before. A case of CSS, presenting with fever and progressive heart failure due to pericarditis, eosinophilic endomyocarditis, and myocardial necrotizing vasculitis, is reported. Cardiac involvement assessed by noninvasive (cardiac two-dimensional echocardiogram and nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] imaging) and invasive (cardiac catheterization, angiography, and biopsy) studies showed a moderate degree of pericardial effusion and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (ejection fraction 0.40), severe diastolic dysfunction (increased right and LV filling pressure with a dip and plateau pattern) and a severe reduction of cardiac index (1.6 L/min/m2). Histologic characteristics showed marked eosinophilic infiltration of the endocardium and myocardium with myocitolysis and fibrinoid necrosis of arterioles, venules, and capillaries. Combination therapy of steroids and cyclophosphamide resulted in both a clinical (regression of pericardial effusion, normalization of systolic and diastolic dysfunction, and increase of cardiac index to 2.8 L/min/m2) and histologic (sequential endomyocardial biopsies at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up) resolution of cardiac involvement. No recurrences were registered at 12-month follow-up with the patient receiving a maintenance drug regimen.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cardiomyopathies / complications*
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnosis
  • Cardiomyopathies / pathology
  • Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive / etiology
  • Churg-Strauss Syndrome / complications*
  • Churg-Strauss Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Coronary Disease / complications*
  • Coronary Disease / pathology
  • Coronary Vessels / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Necrosis