THE ANATOMY OF CHURG STRAUSS SYNDROME

NIGERIAN LEADER UMARU YAR'ADUA.

San Francisco (THEWILL) - THEWILL has researched the ailments plaguing the Nigerian President. We reveal the A-Z of the root cause of his several hospitalizations.

Churg Strauss syndrome otherwise known as allergic granulomatosis and angiitis is a disorder characterized by inflammation of the walls of small-sized blood vessels, which comprises both arteries and veins. This results in narrowing of the affected blood vessels thus leading to reduction in blood flow to organs, infarction and organ death/failure. It is a multisystemic disease.

The commonly affected organs are; Kidney, Heart, Central nervous system (Brain and spinal cord) and skin. Physicians say almost all patients with this disease are known asthmatics.

Complications that commonly result are; hypertension, renal/kidney failure, myocarditis/ constrictive pericarditis/ cardiac failure, gangrene/ death of the fingers and toes, stroke, and seizures/convulsions.

The mainstay of treatment is with steroids and symptomatic treatment of any arising complications. One of the commonest complications of prolonged steroid use is reduced immunity and the risk of superimposed opportunistic infections. Others include skin atrophy/ thinning and hypo-pigmentation (skin discolouration).

The cause of Churg Strauss syndrome is unknown though some authors believe it is an autoimmune disorder. Others believe it could be a form of allergic reaction to certain drugs or other unknown stimulants. All affected patients are known asthmatics. It is commoner in males than females. Prognosis is very poor once the heart is involved.