FRI0236 Structure and function of the fibrin network in patients with churg-strauss syndrome

Background Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare systemic necrotizing vasculitis, characterized by severe asthma, blood eosinophilia and eosynophilic infiltration of tissue. In the course of the disease thromboembolic incidence has been reported. Depending on the study the incidence of arterial occlusion ranging between 3.1-18.7% and a prevalence of venous occlusion between 5.8-30%. Objectives We want to test the hypothesis that fibrin structure/function is unfavourably altered in patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome, which could be a novel prothrombotic mechanism tha operates in this disease. Methods Ex vivo plasma fibrin permeability, turbidimetry and efficiency of fibrinolysis were investigated in 35 patients with CCS free of history of thrombotic events (24 female, 11 male, aged 48 [range, 21-80] years. The control group comprised 35 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. All patients were in stable phase of the disease. Results Compared with controls, patients with CCS were characterized by significantly lower clot permeability (p