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Nasal Polyposis in Churg‐Strauss Syndrome
Author(s) -
Bacciu Andrea,
Buzio Carlo,
Giordano Davide,
Pasanisi Enrico,
Vincenti Vincenzo,
Mercante Giuseppe,
Grasselli Chiara,
Bacciu Salvatore
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/mlg.0b013e318159889d
Subject(s) - medicine , otorhinolaryngology , nasal polyps , nose , etiology , dermatology , surgery , gastroenterology
Abstract Objectives: Churg‐Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a systemic vasculitic disorder of unknown etiology that affects small‐to‐medium‐size blood vessels. Patients affected by CSS frequently show ear, nose, and throat manifestations, which are often present at the time of disease onset. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of nasal polyposis in a series of 29 patients with CSS and to correlate the nasal findings to the total health situation of these patients. Study Design: Retrospective analysis. Setting: Department of Otolaryngology and Department of Clinical Medicine, Nephrology and Health Science, University of Parma. Methods: Twenty‐nine patients with CSS were identified. Of the 29 patients, 17 (58.6%) had nasal polyposis and were enrolled in this study. The nasal polyps were graded according to the Lund and Mackay endoscopic and radiological classifications. Results: At diagnosis, endoscopic intranasal evaluation identified nasal polyposis of grade 3 in nine cases (52.9%), grade 2 in six cases (35.2%), and grade 1 in the remaining case (5.8%). After corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy, clinical remission was achieved in 14 patients (82.3%), whereas 3 patients experienced a relapse. Posttreatment endoscopic evaluation showed a permanent disappearance (grade 0) of nasal polyps in eight patients (47%). The other nine patients (52.92%) were found to have a small polyp situated in the middle meatus (grade 1). Conclusions: Nasal polyposis in patients with CSS may represent the initial phase of the syndrome, though patients often have concurrent pulmonary disease. Corticosteroid therapy either alone or combined with immunosuppressive drugs usually yielded improvement or stabilization.