[Quantitative and qualitative findings of hepatitis B virus-associated antigens, receptors and antibodies in the course of the acute phase of hepatitis B infection]. / Quantitative und qualitative Befunde Hepatitis-B-Virus-assoziierter Antigene, -Rezeptoren und -Antikörper im Verlauf der Akutphase der Hepatitis-B-Infektion.

UNLABELLED: Receptors for pHSA may be the links between HBV and hepatocytes. Therefore, we evaluated the correlation between serum binding activity for pHSA during the acute phase of hepatitis B in relation to the decrease of surface antigen concentration. METHODS: 130 sera from 22 patients with acute (HBeAg-positive) hepatitis B were obtained weekly during an average interval of 7 weeks after the onset of the disease. R-pHSA were tested by RIA in 4 titre steps (1:50, 1:500, 1:5000, 1:50,000). HBsAg was analysed quantitatively by RIA according to the standard serum of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute.

[Recent aspects of antirheumatic therapy in the elderly]. / Neuere Aspekte antirheumatischer Therapie bei älteren Patienten.

Consequences have to be derived in respect to the antirheumatic treatment from recent withdrawals of several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). This especially applies for elderly patients with reduced renal function. The dosage has to be carefully adjusted to the individual problems of the patient. No attempts should be made to achieve a completely pain-free state by use of highest dosages: the lower the dose maintaining the patient's mobility, the safer the therapy. NSAID with long elimination half-life time carry a special risk of adverse effects for the elderly due to accumulation. Reduced renal function of the elderly may also result in hypertension and heart failure. Combination of NSAID with glucocorticoids may enhance the antiinflammatory effect, but also causes an increase of adverse effects. Therefore, the combined use appears to be justified only in special situations of severe inflammatory activity no sufficiently controlled by NSAID in which the glucocorticoids are used in the lowest effective dose applied according to the circadian rhythm. The duration of treatment is to be limited, since the adverse effects of glucocorticoids increase with time.

[Cutaneous paresthesia in high-dose intravenous dexamethasone therapy in oncology]. / Missempfindungen der Haut bei hochdosierter intravenöser Dexamethason-Behandlung in der Onkologie.

Seventeen oncological patients reported unpleasant but clinically harmless skin sensations directly after intravenous injection of dexamethasone, persisting for 2-4 minutes. In 16 cases, these paraesthesias (tingling, burning, itching, twinging) occurred in the genital or perineal area. In one case, the symptoms started in this area and then extended over the entire truncus integument for a short period. The cause of this obviously drug-induced side effect is unknown.