Noncorticosteroid Immunosuppression Limits Myocardial Damage and Contractile Dysfunction in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss Syndrome)

• Published in: Journal of the American College of Cardiology Vol. 65; no. 1; pp. 103 - 105
• Main Authors: Miszalski-Jamka, Tomasz, PhD, Szczeklik, Wojciech, PhD, Sokołowska, Barbara, PhD, Karwat, Krzysztof, MD, Miszalski-Jamka, Karol, MD, Jaźwiec, Przemysław, PhD, Małek, Łukasz A., PhD, Al-Khalidi, Hussein, PhD, Schulz-Menger, Jeanette, PhD, Mavrogeni, Sophie, PhD, Mahr, Alfred, PhD, Mazur, Wojciech, MD, Kereiakes, Dean J., MD, Musiał, Jacek, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 06.01.2015; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Acute coronary syndromes; Cardiology; Cardiovascular; Churg-Strauss Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Churg-Strauss Syndrome - drug therapy; Churg-Strauss Syndrome - economics; Churg-Strauss Syndrome - pathology; Churg-Strauss Syndrome - physiopathology; Confidence intervals; Drug therapy; Enzymes; Heart attacks; Heart failure; Heart Ventricles - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Internal Medicine; Medical imaging; Mortality; Myocardial Contraction; Myocardium - pathology; Nervous system; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 0735-1097; 1558-3597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2014.08.055

To date, the impact of noncorticosteroid immunosuppression on cardiac involvement in patients with EGPA is poorly defined and it remains unknown whether such therapy can prevent heart damage. [...]we hypothesized that the addition of noncorticosteroid immunosuppressants to glucocorticoids may effectively limit myocardial damage and contractile dysfunction in patients with EGPA. During the disease course, 21 (41%) patients experienced clinical relapse(s). Because of relapse, 6 (12%) patients received an additional noncorticosteroid immunosuppressant (3 patients received cyclophosphamide, 2 patients received azathioprine, and 1 patient received methotrexate).