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Biomedical subjects

B L Feaster

Publications and source records attributed to B L Feaster.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Daily vs alternate day prednisone therapy for stage II sarcoidosis.

Forty-four patients with newly discovered biopsy-proven pulmonary sarcoidosis in roentgenographic stage II (adenopathy and interstitial abnormalities) who also had abnormal pulmonary function (TLC and/or DCO less than 80 percent predicted) were assigned in alternate sequence to either a daily or alternate day prednisone treatment protocol. Both groups showed statistically significant improvement in pulmonary function (TLC, FVC, FEV1, DCO) at three or six months, but there were no significant differences between the two groups. Radiographic adenopathy and interstitial scores (interpreted by blinded readers in random sequence according to a quantitative scale) also showed significant improvement in both groups at three or six months, and again no significant difference was noted between the two groups. Thus, both daily and alternate day prednisone regimens were effective therapy for stage II sarcoidosis. Alternate day therapy may be the treatment of choice for those patients at high risk for significant adverse steroid effects.

Adult↗

Asymptomatic glomerulonephritis after nonstreptococcal upper respiratory infections.

Two hundred forty previously healthy military personnel with nonstreptococcal upper respiratory infections were prospectively studied to define the incidence and clinicopathologic characteristics of possible virus-associated glomerulonephritis. Nine patients without preceding streptococcal infection had erythrocyte casts on urinalysis and glomerulonephritis on biopsy. Of these nine, four had a reduction in total hemolytic complement and five had serologic evidence of infection with adenovirus, influenza A, or influenza B. Initial renal biopsy showed either focal or diffuse mesangial proliferation in all nine, with mesangial C3 deposits in six specimens. Repeat biopsy in three showed histologic improvement or loss of immunofluorescent staining, or both. Sequential creatinine clearances were reduced to 74 to 90 mL/min.1.73 m2 in five patients for the duration of follow-up. We conclude that nonstreptococcal upper respiratory infection is frequently associated with glomerulonephritis and that abnormal glomerular structure and decreased creatinine clearances may persist for at least 2 to 8 months.

Adenoviridae Infections↗