DEAR DR. GOTT:
I was diagnosed with eosinophilic pneumonia about 12 years ago. I was put on a high dose of prednisone and then was tapered off it. I now have asthma and am on prednisone again as well as an albuterol inhaler. Whenever I have an asthma attack, my doctor increases the prednisone dose and then tapers me back down.

My pulmonologist (lung doctor) now tells me I have Churg-Strauss, however, I don’t have any symptoms of it. I have had three blood tests taken but all were negative. Can you tell me anything about this disorder?

DEAR READER:
I will do my best. Churg-Strauss syndrome is one in which blood vessels become inflamed. It is therefore, both a pulmonary disorder as well as a form of vasculitis (which simply means blood vessel inflammation). [Read more...]