The effect of steroid use in hospitalized adults with respiratory syncytial virus-related illness.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Systemic glucocorticosteroids (steroids) are commonly prescribed for patients with exacerbations of COPD during acute viral infections such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The effects of short-term high-dose steroid treatment on viral load and adaptive immunity to RSV have not been examined in adults.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to measure peak viral load and duration of viral shedding, serum and nasal cytokines, RSV-specific antibody response, and lymphocyte subsets in patients admitted to the hospital with RSV infection and to compare patients treated with steroids to patients untreated with steroids.

Methods

Hospitalized adults who tested positive for RSV by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on admission had r

SUBMITTER: Lee FE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3205848 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature