Churg-Strauss Syndrome--A Battle For Mr President

On November 23,2009,Mr President,Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua was hurriedly flown to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia via an air ambulance for treatment.For over a month,he has remained in the hospital in a critical condition.The fate of the country remains in God's hands as different groups are beginning to raise 'ugly' heads.

He was diagnosed of acute pericarditis,which is the inflammation of the pericardium(the covering of the heart).Doctors said that the condition is closely linked to the kidney problem he has.Uremia(the accumulation of urea in the blood as a result of the inability of the diseased kidney to effectively excrete it) was blamed for it.

Medical experts said that he is suffering from Churg-Strauss Syndrome.

Churg-Strauss Syndrome(also known as allergic granulomatosis) is a medium and small vessel auto-immune vasculitis,leading to necrosis. It involves mainly the blood vessels of the lung(it begins as a severe type of asthma),gastrointestinal system,and peripheral nerves,but also affects the heart,skin and kidneys. It is a rare disease that is non-inheritable and non-transmissible.

The syndrome was first described by Drs.Jacob Churg and Lotte Strauss at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York city in 1951.

The disease has three distinct stages.

The first stage is called the 'allergic' phase and is characterised by allergic inflammation of nose,the sinuses,the skin and the lungs. People are often diagnosed with late onset asthma during this phase. Others may have childhood onset asthma and allergies that suddenly worsen later in life.

The second phase is called 'hypereosinophilic' phase,which means that there are too many eosinophils(a type of white blood cell) in the blood and in certain organs. This phase is characterised by eosinophilic inflammation of lungs,esophagus,stomach or intestines.

The third phase is the 'systemic vasculitis' phase. During this phase,there is inflammation and damage of the blood vessels. Stage three is by far the most life threatening and painful.

Often the person will develop severe nerve pain in their legs,arms and hands. Purple marks will appear on the skin and often sores will appear in the mouth or nose.People can live for many years in the first two years before progressing to stage three.

In Churg-Strauss Syndrome,there is reduced renal function,proteinuria,gastrointestinal hemorrhage,infarction or pancreatitis,involvement of the central nervous system or cardiomyopathy.

Treatment for the syndrome includes glucocorticoids such as predrisolone and other immunosuppressive drugs such as azathroprine and cyclophosphanide.The role of God's mercy cannot be overemphasized.

Like Musa Yar'Adua, the musician,Ben Watt suffered from the disease in the mid-1990s which affected his gastrointestinal tract,leaving his lungs largely unaffected.

As we celebrate this year's christmas without the President,let us earnestly pray for his quick recovery and return.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.