Pleural Effusion in Churg-Strauss Syndrome Detected and Successfully Treated at a Tertiary Care Institute: Case Report

Churg-Strauss syndrome is a disorder of hypereosinophilia and systemic vasculitis in subjects with asthma and allergic rhinitis. Patient was admitted with chief complaints of cough without expectoration for a duration of three weeks without accompanying fever. X ray revealed pleural effusion ‘right side’. Exudative pleural fluid with eosinophil predominance and peripheral eosinophilia. The patient was further investigated. No history suggestive of any drug use. stool routine microscopy show no parasites. ANA investigated found to be positive in 1: 80 titre in homogenous pattern. Patient was then found to be P-ANCA positive by immunofluorescence microscopy. Patient was successfully treated with oral prednisolone 40 mg for three months and subsequently improved with disappearance of symptoms. Keywords: Churg-Strauss syndrome, Pleural effusion, hypereosinophilia.

Serum allergen-specific IGE to common aeroallergens among allergic rhinitis patients in Egypt

Background Allergic rhinitis is the most prevalent allergic disease, and the prevalence and sensitization patterns differ among countries. Identifying the most common inhalant allergen in each region plays a key role in the diagnosis and management of allergic rhinitis. There are no data available about the most prevalent aeroallergen among allergic rhinitis patients in Egypt. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of positive serum allergen-specific IGE to common inhalant allergens among allergic rhinitis patients in Egypt. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 354 allergic rhinitis patients, serum allergen-specific IGE was measured by using the Immuno CAP system to 16 common regional aeroallergens including (pollens, mite, molds, animal dander, and cockroach). Results The overall rate of sensitization to any allergen was 74.6%. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, birch pollens, and Dermatophagoides farina were the most prevalent allergens (29.7%, 23.7%, and 18.6%), respectively. Cladosporuim molds were the least prevalent individual allergens (1.7%). Conclusion Our data suggest that Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and birch pollens were the predominant allergen sources among allergic rhinitis patient in Egypt.