Association Between Cytokines and Severity of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)-Induced Illness in the Elderly

The Association Between Cytokine Genotype Polymorphisms and Severity of RSV-Induced Illness in the Elderly

This research study involves studying the genes that may affect how ill you become during respiratory infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is a virus that often causes common colds.

Cytokines are chemicals that are naturally made by your body. Cytokine levels are increased in some people when they have common colds or wheezing caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The purpose of this study is to study the genes that may control cytokine levels during infection with RSV in the elderly population.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects > 65 years of age diagnosed with RSV-induced respiratory illness
• Diagnosis (based upon ICD-9-CM codes) for pneumonia, upper respiratory illness, bronchitis, COPD, asthma, viral illness, or congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Willing to sign informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not willing to sign informed consent.
• Subjects less that 65 years of age
• Subjects not diagnosed with a respiratory illness