Objectives. To study the clinical spectrum and evolution of Churg–Strauss syndrome in order to assess the clinicopathological features of the disease, the response to treatment and the long‐term outcome. Methods. Thirty‐two patients with proven allergic and granulomatous angiitis (Churg–Strauss syndrome) and followed up at a single institution were evaluated. They were recruited between 1977 and 1999 from internal medicine departments. Data were obtained retrospectively from medical files in 15 cases and prospectively, using a standardized form, for the remaining patients. Results. All patients had asthma and hypereosinophilia. The lungs, skin and peripheral nervous system were the organs most frequently involved. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with antimyeloperoxidase specificity (MPO‐ANCA) were detected in 77.8% of tested patients but they were not useful for monitoring disease activity. Extravascular granulomas were rarely seen in tissue biopsies. Forty per cent of the patients were treated with steroids alone. Immunosuppressive agents were added to the treatment when severe neurological, cardiac or gastrointestinal involvement was present. The outcome and long‐term survival were good. Clinical relapse was rare after the first year of therapy. Dysaesthesiae of the distal limbs, neurophatic pain and cardiac failure were the most frequent sequelae. Conclusions. Churg–Strauss syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by hypereosinophilia and systemic vasculitis occurring in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis. Vasculitis commonly affects the lungs, skin and peripheral nervous system. Outcome and long‐term survival is usually good with steroids alone or in combination with immunosuppressive agents. The syndrome has a low mortality rate compared with other systemic vasculitides.

BACKGROUND: Non—cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with bronchiectasis usually develop chronic bronchial infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) that is related to worsening lung function and increased morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether direct aerosol delivery of tobramycin to the lower airways may control infection and produce only low systemic toxicity. METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving 30 patients was conducted to determine the clinical effectiveness and safety of 6-month tobramycin inhalation therapy. Patients received 300 mg of aerosolized tobramycin or placebo twice daily in 2 cycles, each for 6 months, with a one-month washout period. The number of exacerbations, number of hospital admissions, number of hospital admission days, antibiotic use, pulmonary function, quality of life, tobramycin toxicity, density of PA in sputum, emergence of bacterial resistance, and emergence of other opportunistic bacteria were recorded. RESULTS: The number of admissions and days of admission (mean ± SD) during the tobramycin period (0.15 ± 0.37 and 2.05 ± 5.03) were lower than those during the placebo period (0.75 ± 1.16 and 12.65 ± 21.8) (p < 0.047). A decrease in PA density in sputum was associated with tobramycin administration in the analysis of the first 6-month cycle (p = 0.038). No significant differences were observed in the number of exacerbations, antibiotic use, pulmonary function, and quality of life. The emergence of bacterial resistance and other bacteria did not differ between the 2 periods of study. Inhaled tobramycin was associated with bronchospasm in 3 patients, but not with detectable ototoxicity or nephrotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Aerosol administration of high-dose tobramycin in non-CF bronchiectatic patients for endobronchial infection with PA appears to be safe and decreases the risk of hospitalization and PA density in sputum. Nevertheless, pulmonary function and quality of life are not improved, and the risk of bronchospasm is appreciable.

Objectives To study associations between use of cleaning products and asthma symptoms in cleaning workers. Methods Information on respiratory symptoms, history of asthma, workplaces, use of cleaning products and acute inhalation incidents were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. 917 employees of 37 cleaning companies in Barcelona were studied. 761 (83%) were current cleaners, 86 (9%) former cleaners and 70 (8%) had never worked as cleaners. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations between specific exposures among current cleaners and wheeze without having a cold, chronic cough and current asthma. Associations with an asthma symptom score were also studied using negative binomial regression analyses to report mean ratios. Results After adjusting for sex, age, nationality and smoking status, the prevalence of current asthma was non-significantly higher among current (OR 1.9; 95% CI 0.5 to 7.8) and former cleaners (OR 1.9; CI 0.6 to 5.5) than in never cleaners. Cleaners working in hospitals during the last year had a significantly increased prevalence of wheeze, current asthma and a 1.8 (95% CI 1.2 to 2.8) times higher mean asthma score. Use of hydrochloric acid was strongly associated with asthma score (mean ratio 1.7; 95% CI 1.1 to 2.6). Use of ammonia, degreasers, multiple purpose products and waxes was also associated with asthma score. Conclusions Cleaning work in places with high demand for disinfection, high cleaning standards and use of cleaning products containing respiratory irritants is associated with higher risk of asthma symptoms. This suggests irritants have an important role in cleaning-related asthma.

BACKGROUND To the authors' knowledge the role of tumor marker determination in the differential diagnosis of pleural effusions has not been established definitively. The current article reports the results of a study of CYFRA 21‐1, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), squamous cell antigen (SCC), and neuron specific enolase (NSE) in the serum and pleural fluid of patients with pleural effusions of diverse etiologies. METHODS One hundred forty‐six patients with pleural effusions (43 malignant, 47 tuberculous, 32 miscellaneous benign, and 24 paramalignant) were studied prospectively. Levels of CYFRA 21‐1, CA 125, CEA, NSE, and SCC were measured by radioimmunoassay in the pleural fluid in all patients and in the serum in 118 patients. RESULTS There were no significant differences between the serum and pleural fluid levels of tumor markers with the exception of CA 125, which was higher in the pleural fluid. With maximum specificity, the highest sensitivity in the diagnosis of pleural malignancy was obtained with a combination of CYFRA 21‐1 (with a cutoff value of 150 U/L), CEA (with a cutoff value of 40 ng/mL), and CA 125 (with a cutoff value of 1000 ng/mL) in pleural fluid. NSE and SCC added no diagnostic value. The simultaneous use of tumor markers and cytology in pleural fluid increased the sensitivity from 55.8% to 81%. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that a combination of CYFRA 21‐1, CEA, and CA 125 in the pleural fluid can be a useful addition to pleural cytology in the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion. Cancer 1999;86:1488–95. © 1999 American Cancer Society.