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G Dien

Publications and source records attributed to G Dien.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

A randomized, multicenter, controlled trial using intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone in the initial treatment of simple forms of giant cell arteritis: a one year followup study of 164 patients.

OBJECTIVE: (1) To evaluate the corticosteroid sparing effect of an initial intravenous (i.v.) pulse of methylprednisolone (MP) in the treatment of simple forms of giant cell arteritis (GCA). (2) To analyze corticosteroid response, steroid related side effects, and GCA complications. METHODS: Patients received a 240 mg i.v. pulse of MP followed by 0.7 mg/kg/day oral prednisone (Group 1) or 0.7 mg/kg/day prednisone without an i.v. pulse (Group 2, controls), or a 240 mg i.v. pulse of MP followed by 0.5 mg/kg/day prednisone (Group 3). Corticosteroid dosage was reduced after normalization of 2 biological inflammatory variables to obtain half-dosage after 4 weeks in Groups 1 and 2 and 20 mg/day after 2 weeks in Group 3. Tapering was systematically attempted from the 6th month of treatment. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-four patients were included in the trial (1992-96). Cumulative doses of corticosteroids after one year were identical for all groups (p = 0.39). No significant differences were observed in the time required for normalization of C-reactive protein, corticosteroid resistance (13.5%), and corticosteroid related side effects (39% of patients; p = 0.37). Corticosteroid resistant patients received larger doses and showed a high risk of GCA related complications (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: MP pulses have no significant longterm, corticosteroid sparing effects in the treatment of simple forms of GCA and should be limited to complicated forms. Moreover, corticosteroid resistance is a real risk factor for GCA complications.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1994

Cell-free Fc-gamma receptor III in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: correlation with clinical and biological features.

Fifty patients (41 females and 9 males, ranging in age from 12 to 79 years) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 20 normal controls were evaluated for the presence of plasma cell-free Fc gamma receptor III (Fc gamma RIII) using an ELISA based upon a sandwich of two monoclonal antibodies. The standard curve was obtained with serial dilutions of recombinant Fc gamma RIII. In the patients, the cell-free Fc gamma RIII levels ranged from to 1.76 micrograms/ml, while it did not exceed 0.21 microgram/ml in the controls. Assuming that the cutoff is 0.25 microgram/ml, 11 SLE patients and no controls had elevated cell-free Fc gamma RIII levels in the serum. Among the SLE patients, the level of cell-free Fc gamma RIII was significantly lower (p = 0.05) in 4 patients with sicca syndrome than in the remaining 46. Furthermore, cell-free Fc gamma RIII levels appeared to be lower in 11 patients with renal involvement than in those without. For the biological parameters, we observed that the 27 patients who presented lymphopenia also had a lower level of cell-free Fc gamma RIII when compared to the 23 patients without lymphopenia (0.09 +/- 0.19 versus 0.35 +/- 0.52 microgram/ml; p = 0.05). Circulating cell-free Fc gamma RIII may originate from shedding by presumably activated polymorphonuclear cells.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Relationship of interleukin-4 to isotypic distribution of anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus.

IgG subclasses of anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies were determined in 182 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. All isotypes were detected, but IgG1 and IgG3 were predominant (62 and 51% of the cases, respectively). An average of 64 +/- 27% was IgG1, 16 +/- 22% IgG2, 16 +/- 19% IgG3 and 4 +/- 10% IgG4. The rank order or frequency was IgG1, IgG3, IgG2 and IgG4 in patients with musculoskeletal involvement; IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 in those with renal complications; IgG3, IgG1, IgG2 and IgG4 in those with cutaneous involvement; and IgG1, IgG3, IgG2 and IgG4 in those with hematological manifestations. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) was detectable in 17 of 36 selected patients, as opposed to 1 of 40 normal controls. The percentage of the total autoantibody contributed by IgG1 was significantly higher (p < 0.03) in these patients than in the remainder with undetectable levels of IL-4.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Hypovitaminemia A in idiopathic hemochromatosis and hepatic cirrhosis. Role of retinol-binding protein and zinc.

Serum levels of vitamin A, its specific carrier protein retinol-binding protein (RBP), and zinc were determined in 34 cases of idiopathic hemochromatosis, 33 cases of alcoholic cirrhosis, 10 cases of non-alcoholic cirrhosis, and in 35 normal controls. In both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhosis, vitamin A and RBP levels were very significantly reduced, whereas a significantly low zinc was observed only in the alcoholic cirrhosis group. In idiopathic hemochromatosis, vitamin A values were significantly lower compared to normals, whereas serum RBP levels were normal and serum zinc was very close to that of the controls. A significant correlation was found between vitamin A and RBP levels in the entire group of 112 patients. These results, (1) in alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhosis, confirm a dramatic vitamin A deficiency and the major role played by decreased RBP, but tend to deemphasize the possible role of zinc deficiency; (2) in idiopathic hemochromatosis, affirm a significant serum vitamin A deficiency supposedly by a different mechanism from that of alcoholic cirrhosis since in idiopathic hemochromatosis plasma RBP levels are normal. The role of this vitamin A disorder should be considered in the interpretation of clinical signs of idiopathic hemochromatosis such as ichthyosis and visual disorders.

Adult↗