Cogan’s syndrome: Unsuccessful outcome with early combination therapy

M. Covelli, G. Lapadula, V. Pipitone

Cattedra di Reumatologia, Università degli Studi di Bari, Italy.

ABSTRACT
Interstitial keratitis and vestibulo-auditory symptoms (vertigo and hearing loss) are the typical signs of Cogan’s syndrome, a rare inflammatory vascular disease. Signs of vasculitis in many organ systems may appear, among which neurologic problems are sometime predominant. The efficacy of glucocorticoids on the ocular and systemic symptoms is established, but their effect on hearing loss is unknown. We describe a case of Cogan’s syndrome with neurological involvement in which early treatment with combination therapy (prednisolone and cyclosporin) failed to bring ear inflammation under control.

Key words
Cogan’s syndrome, glucocorticoids, cyclosporin, cyclophosphamide, nervous system involvement.

Please address correspondence and reprint requests to: Dott. M. Covelli, Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e del Lavoro, Università degli Studi di Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare no. 11, 70124 Bari, Italy.

Clin Exp Rheumatol 1999; 17: 479-483.
© Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 1999.