New CSS Research at
Brigham and Women's Hospital

Dr. Michael Wechsler at Brigham & Women’s Hospital continues to be active in studying CSS. He has 2 active research projects ongoing and always welcomes CSS patients.

1) CSS genetics- Dr. Wechsler and colleagues have identified several CSS patients who have relatives with CSS or related disease such as asthma, vasculitis, autoimmunity. He continues to identify new subjects and is hoping to ultimately trying to identify a gene that may be playing a role in causing CSS. He has received over 100 blood samples from CSS subjects to date and is trying to identify as many as possible. One goal is to establish heritability patterns of CSS and related traits. Another goal is to try determine which genes may be causing CSS.

The first step in this study is currently ongoing and involves blood collection and answering of simple questionnaires. This can be done in Boston, or locally and shipped at Dr. Wechsler’s expense.

Pending funding from the NIH, the second part of the study will involve investigating other family members and should get underway in late 2008. This study involves collecting blood samples for DNA analysis as well as screening CSS tests (e.g. eosinophils), and answering questionnaires from CSS family members.

2) Anti IL5- The safety and efficacy of mepolizumab (anti-IL5) in CSS subjects
Interleukin -5 (IL5) is an important cytokine that is involved in maturation, proliferation and regulation of blood eosinophils, one of the primary cells involved in many eosinophilic conditions. Mepolizumab is a monoclonal antibody against IL5 that has been used successfully in the management of the hypereosinophilic syndrome. Dr. Wechsler and colleagues have begun a clinical trial in Boston that involves 4 monthly infusions of anti IL5 intravenously followed by monthly visits up to a year. The purpose of the trial is to see if mepolizumab is safe in CSS patients and how low patients can taper their systemic corticosteroids according to a steroid tapering regimen. Other outcomes to be studied include pulmonary function testing, and blood markers such as eosinophil counts, IL5 levels, sedimentation rate and CRP.

This preliminary open label trial has begun enrollment but will be limited to 10 CSS subjects. If deemed to be safe and effective, future trials will include a double blind placebo controlled trial of mepolizumab in CSS.

More information about this exciting new trial can be found at Clinical Trials.gov:

Dr. Wechsler continues to see CSS patients clinically, and remain excited about his CSS research. “There is a clear need for new treatment strategies for these patients. There is also a need to have a better understanding of the genetics and underlying cause of this condition. With these research projects, we hope to impact this disease that can be debilitating to so many individuals.”

Dr. Wechsler serves on the Churg Strauss Syndrome Association Medical Advisory Board. He was a speaker at the 2006 Vasculitis Patient Symposium in Baltimore.

Dr. Wechsler can be reached via email at mwechsler@partners.org