Author/Editor		Maček, Vasilija
Title		Vloga respiratornih virusov v patogenezi astme
Translated title		The role of respiratory viruses in the pathogenesis of asthma
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		1999
Volume		str. 137
Language		slo
Abstract		Asthma is a syndrom of chronic airways inflammation of unknown etiology. The studies presented here were designed to detect common respiratory viruses in the lower airways. There is evidence that viral infections may precipitate attacks in patients with established asthma. Asthma can even start with a respiratory viral infection. Whether the virus influences asthma by triggering a specific response in a susceptible host phenotype predisposed to developing asthma or simply drives the inflammatory response responsible for asthma remains to be determined. Glucocorticoids, though a successful treatment in many cases of asthma, increase viral titers and prolong viral shedding. From this point of view, the role of respiratory viruses may be more important especially in glucocorticoid resistant asthma. The first chapter deals with glucocorticoid resistant asthma. It has been established that adenovirus is a common cause of severe childhood bronchiolitis. The observation that children with an established history of bronchiolitus subsequently developed unremitting airway obstruction even after adequate glucocorticoid therapy led us to postulate that this bronchial obstruction might be due to persistence of an adenovital infection. This hypothesis was tested by performing bronchoalveolar lavage on a group of 34 children with a mean age 5 years (range, 14 mo to 14 yr) who showed an unfavorable response to standard corticosteroid and bronchodilator therapy. Analysis of cytopsin preparations of bronchoalveolar fluid at the light-microscopic level, using a monoclonal antibody to detect adenoviral antigens, demonstrated that capsid protein was present in 31 of 34 (94%) of the children examined. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Descriptors		ASTHMA ADRENAL CORTEX HORMONES DRUG RESISTANCE RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS CHILD ADENOVIRUSES, HUMAN BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE FLUID BRONCHIOLITIS RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS, HUMAN ACTINS RNA FATAL OUTCOME