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Background: Little is known about the long-term outcome of airflow obstruction in asthma of patients with Churg–Strauss syndrome (CSS). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 24 consecutive patients (aged 41.1 ± 13.5 years) with CSS in a single center. All had asthma (starting 8.1 ± 9.5 years prior to the diagnosis of CSS), blood eosinophilia (6.1 ± 4.4 × 109/l) and systemic manifestations of CSS. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies were found in 7 of 22 tested patients. Seven patients had smoked (a mean of 10 pack-years). All patients received oral corticosteroids, 11 cyclophosphamide and 23 inhaled corticosteroids. Results: Airflow obstruction was found in 14 patients (70%) at diagnosis, and in 11 of 22 patients (50%) at the time of the clinical remission of CSS. The mean postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC and FEV1 were 69 ± 12% and 74 ± 21% of predicted at diagnosis ( n = 20); 71 ± 10% and 92 ± 19% of predicted at the clinical remission ( n = 22); and 64 ± 13% and 80 ± 21% at last visit ( n = 13), respectively. During follow-up, postbronchodilator FEV1 increased by 30 ± 28% in six patients with FEV1/FVC < 70% despite inhaled therapy who received higher dose of oral corticosteroids. At last visit, 5 of 13 patients (38%) with more than 3 years of follow-up had persistent airflow obstruction as defined by postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC < 70% and FEV1 < 80% of predicted. Conclusion: Airflow obstruction due to uncontrolled asthma is present despite corticosteroids in many patients at diagnosis and at clinical remission of CSS, and during follow-up. It may be still partly reversible with increased oral corticosteroid treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study was carried out in 85 patients with a well‐documented history of perennial asthma caused by house‐dust mites. Patients received either placebo or sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with a standardized Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP)–D. farinae (DF) 50/50 extract. After a run‐in period, patients received increasing doses up to 300 IR every day for 4 weeks and then three times a week for the following 24 months. The cumulative dose was about 104 000 IR, equivalent to 4.2 mg Der p 1 and 7.3 mg Der f 1. Symptom and medication scores and respiratory function were assessed throughout the trial. Serum specific IgE and IgG4 were determined before SLIT (t0) and after 6 (t1), 11 (t2), 17 (t3), and 25 months (t4) of SLIT. Mite exposure was evaluated at t0, t2, and t4 by semiquantitative guanine determinations. Patients aged 15 years and older were asked to assess their quality of life (QoL) by completing the SF20 (Short Form Health Status Survey) plus two items at t0, t2, and t4. Use of inhaled corticosteroids and β2‐agonists was significantly decreased after 25 months of treatment in both groups (P<0.03). SLIT patients showed significant improvements in respiratory function at t4 (% predicted FEV1 (P=0.01), VC (P=0.002), morning (P=0.01) and evening (P=0.03) PEFR), and reduction in daytime asthma score (P=0.02). In the SLIT group, the post‐treatment PD20 was 1.75 times higher than the baseline value. There was no change in PD20 in the placebo group. Compared to the placebo group, the SLIT group showed a significant increase in specific IgE DP (P=0.05), IgE DF (P=0.02), IgG4 DP (P=0.001), and IgG4 DF (P=0.001) levels after SLIT. QoL scores were similar in both groups at t0 and... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]