Chronic steroid dependent asthma and pulmonary function.

The authors followed 84 asthma clinic patients, with an average age of 49 years, for 12 years. Pulmonary function studies consisting of forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity were performed upon initial evaluation and quarterly re-evaluation.

Pleural effusions in AIDS.

The authors present clinical, radiographic, and laboratory findings, and the results of therapy for 16 patients with pleural disease and HIV infection. The study underscores the wide variety of etiologies of pleural effusions and recommends a stepwise pragmatic approach in evaluating such patients, making no distinction between non-HIV-infected subjects.

Albuterol and spacer-induced atrial fibrillation.

Albuterol used with a spacer device which induced atrial fibrillation is described. Inhaled sympathomimetics have been extensively studied for the treatment of asthma and have generally been found to be safe from cardiac arrhythmias. A review of the literature is presented.

Spacer-induced atrial fibrillation.

Inhaled sympathomimetics, studied extensively for treatment of asthma, have been found to be safe from cardiac arrhythmias. We discuss a case report of albuterol used with a spacer device that induced atrial fibrillation. We review relevant literature.

Asthma due to parasitic infestation.

The authors document the association between refractory asthma, eosinophilia, pulmonary infiltrates, and diarrhea due to parasitic hyper-infestation resulting from Strongyloides stercoralis.

Steroid use in asthmatics.

Patients with steroid-dependent asthma were evaluated for possible complications of long-term steroid administration. The frequency of these complications was related to dose and duration of therapy.

Antilung antibodies in asthma.

Twenty-four asthmatic patients were evaluated for the presence of circulating cytotoxic lung antibodies. These patients were further classified as either extrinsic or intrinsic asthmatics on the basis of skin testing, age of onset, and atopic history. Of the 12 patients considered to have extrinsic asthma, 10 had positive titers, one borderline, and one negative for cytotoxic lung antibodies. In the group of 12 patients classified as intrinsic asthmatics, eight had negative titers, two borderline, and two positive for cytotoxic lung antibodies. Adsorption studies indicated that these antibodies were organ-specific. Twenty normal non-smoking controls were also tested, all of whom were negative. Five patients with allergic rhinitis, positive intradermal skin tests, and no history of asthma were found to be negative for cytotoxic lung antibodies.