Glossary of Terms

This is a general introduction to some terms you may come across whilst finding out about Churg-Strauss Syndrome.  May we remind you once again that this site has been compiled by non-medical volunteers and point you towards our Disclaimer Page.

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Accolate:

The commercial name for Zafirlukast, an inhaled anti-asthma product of the pharmaceutical firm, Zeneca. For more information see the Asthma and Allergy Foundation site mentioned on our useful links page.

Allergen: (also "Antigen"):

Any substance that, as a result of coming in contact with appropriate cells, induces a state of sensitivity and immune responsiveness after a latent period (days to weeks)...So an "allergy" is a response -- sometimes a harmful autoimmune response -- to a particular antigen or to a group of antigens.

Allergic Granulomatosis:

Any response to an allergen (antigen) that involves many (i.e., lots of) granulomas.

Angiitis:

Inflammation (redness, soreness, swelling,) of a blood vessel. "Allergic Angiitis" means inflammation of blood vessels caused by an antigen, or rather, by the allergic response of the body to the presence of an antigen (allergen).

Autoimmunity:

In immunology, the condition in which one's own tissues are subject to deleterious (in plain English, harmful) effects of the immune system, as in autoimmune disease.  You could describe it this way:  "To borrow a wartime analogy, autoimmune disorder is similar to the phenomenon of "friendly fire," whereby the defensive forces mistake the "self" for the "enemy" and attack the "self" with the same arsenal stored up to fight invaders."

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Eosinophil: Pronounced "EE-Oh-SIN' -oh-fill":

A type of white blood cell that normally combat moulds, fungi (funguses) worms, toxins, and a few drugs, but that in Churg-Strauss Syndrome patients multiply beyond their normal numbers and invade (infiltrate) lung tissue and blood vessels.

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Granuloma:

An indefinite term applied to nodular inflammatory lesions, usually small, granular, -- in plain English, a tiny bump or mass that is distinct from surrounding tissue and that may be inflamed (red, swollen and painful) or may be grainy, or both.

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Neuropathy:

A disorder affecting the nervous system

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Periphery:

That part of an organ on the outside, away from the centre

Peripheral Neuropathy:

A disorder affecting the outermost branches (i.e., nerves of the outer limbs, hands, and feet) of the nervous system.

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Vasculitis:

Another word for Angiitis : inflammation (soreness, swelling, pain) of the blood vessels.

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