Successful management of Churg-Strauss syndrome using omalizumab as adjuvant immunomodulatory therapy: first documented pediatric case

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is an anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis; it is extremely rare in childhood and defined according to the Chapel-Hill Consensus as an eosinophil-rich and granulomatous inflammation involving the respiratory tract and necrotizing vasculitis affecting small to medium-sized vessels. Children commonly have a history of asthma and sinusitis whilst clinical presentation typically involves pulmonary tract and less frequently skin, heart, gastrointestinal tract, and peripheral nerves. Cardiopulmonary disease is higher in children and prognosis is worse. It is associated with significant eosinophilia and raised serum IgE-levels. ANCA are only found in 25% of childhood cases. Here we report the case of a 10-year-old girl who presented to us with vomiting, abdominal pain, and weight loss, paresthesias of lower extremities and breathlessness as well as a history of asthma, sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. She was treated with corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, intravenous immunoglobulin, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and rituximab. However, remission was only achieved after initiation of omalizumab therapy, a recombinant humanized anti-IgE antibody. To the best of our knowledge this is the first pediatric patient suffering from CSS successfully managed with adjuvant anti-IgE therapy resulting in the control of respiratory as well as gastrointestinal symptoms.

Displasia ectodérmica anhidrótica asociada a déficit de lectina de unión a manosa

La lectina de unión a la manosa (mannose-binding lectin [MBL]) es una proteína sérica perteneciente al sistema inmunitario innato. Se une a los azúcares de las membranas de múltiples microorganismos, favoreciendo su opsonización y eliminación. El déficit de MBL resulta del polimorfismo del gen MBL2 y se asocia a una amplia variedad de infecciones recurrentes, incluidas las infecciones del tracto respiratorio. Presentamos un caso de displasia ectodérmica anhidrótica asociada a un déficit de MBL, inmunodeficiencia nunca descrita en pacientes afectados de displasia ectodérmica anhidrótica.

[Clinic, diagnosis and treatment of tracheal stenosis]

INTRODUCTION

New surgical techniques have been developed for treatment of tracheal stenosis (TS) over the last few years. The aim of the present study is to examine the clinical, therapeutic characteristics and progress of the cases of TS diagnosed in our hospital from January 2004 to August 2007.

METHODS

We have reviewed the clinical history, focusing on age at diagnosis, clinical signs and symptoms, baseline pathology, previous history of mechanical ventilation, degree of stenosis, diagnostic technique, treatment and progress.

RESULTS

A total of 16 cases were found, (2 congenital and 14 acquired). Mean age at diagnosis was 8.8 months (23 days-2.5 years). Of these, 14 patients had been intubated (3-44 days). Clinical suspicion was prompted by inspiratory stridor (44%), difficulty to be extubated or intubated (28%) and recurrent laryngotracheitis (39%). Three patients received CO(2) laser therapy and suffered a high number of restenosis and required re-interventions. Three patients underwent costal cartilage tracheoplasty and tracheal-cricoid split, showing a good prognosis and one patient underwent a slide tracheoplasty. Five patients with only a few clinical signs and mild stenosis, were managed on a wait and see basis. One patient with tracheal membrane underwent resection of the stenosed portion and end-to-end anastomosis with favourable progress. Another patient had a partial cricotracheal resection but suffered three restenoses. Two patients underwent surgical correction of the vascular ring.

CONCLUSIONS

Asymptomatic patients may receive conservative therapy. In the case of short-segment stenosis, resection and end-to-end anastomosis is the therapy of choice and the long-segment stenosis has obtained good results by means of slide tracheoplasty, which involved no deaths and a very low morbidity.