Research to determine the process by which rheumatic fever injures tissues and the heart is being conducted by Dr. Gerald S. Berenson, a native of Bogalusa.
The scientist is conducting his investigation under a $14,500 grant from the Louisiana Heart Association, and he is aided by $7700 from the American Heart Association.
Dr, Berenson, 37, is associate professor at Louisiana State university school of medicine and a graduate of Tulane university medical school
Rheumatic fever causes more long-time crippling cardiac illness in children than any other disease.
The physician pointed out that, doctors know that certain types of j "strep infections" open the door to the fever,
"But the precise manner in which rheumatic fever occurs is not known," he said, "We are still not sure exactly what produces rheumatic heart disease."
Working with him is Dr, Arthur F. Fishkin, Louisiana State university instructor in biochemistry and medicine, and a group of assistants.
Essentially, their approach to the problem is a chemical one, As Dr. Berenson points out, * There has been a tremendous shift of interest to the chemistry involved in heart disease," The doctors have set their sights on connective tissue to learn more about the iever.
The heart association's 1960 campaign is now underway.
