Allergic granulomatosis and angiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome) presenting as prominent neurologic lesions and optic neuritis.

Abstract

We describe a Chinese male patient with clinicopathologically definite Churg-Strauss syndrome. He had a clinical pattern of mononeuropathy multiplex and unusual optic neuritis, the latter probably being due to vasculitis related demyelination of the optic nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed many clinically silent central nervous system lesions. He initially received steroid therapy, but an early cessation of treatment resulted in acute exacerbation. Later on, he was treated with combined prednisolone-cyclophosphamide therapy for 1 year. His ophthalmological and neurological symptoms responded well to such a regimen and disappeared within 6 months.