Marked improvement of Churg-Strauss vasculitis with intravenous gamma globulins during pregnancy

Clin Rheumatol. 2007 Dec;26(12):2149-2151. doi: 10.1007/s10067-007-0628-8. Epub 2007 May 8.

Abstract

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is an extremely rare disease, and even less common in women of childbearing age. Patients with severe disease or those who are un-responsive to corticosteroids are usually treated with cytotoxic drugs, especially cyclophosphmide. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) has became a promising, but not completely accepted, form of treatment for systemic vasculitis that is un-responsive to standard therapy. We report a case of a woman who presented with a CSS flare during pregnancy. Because of mono-neuritis, treatment with IVIg was instituted with successful results. Our case not only supports the beneficial effect of IVIg in CSS, but it also illustrates its successful and safe use in a patient who was pregnant. We discuss the indication of IVIg during the course of anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antigen (ANCA) vasculitis during the pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Churg-Strauss Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use*
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy Outcome

Substances

  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Immunologic Factors