Influence of Nitrogen Mustard upon Reactions to Bacterial Endotoxins: Shwartzman Phenomenon and Fever.

Abstract

The finding of Stetson and Good that the period of inhibition of the Shwartzman phenomenon which follows injn. of nitrogen mustard (HN2) in the rabbit coincides with the time of max. depression of circulating leukocytes was confirmed. Prevention of severe leukopenia by cysteine resulted in retention of Shwartzman activity, further evidence for the role of the leukocyte in the Shwartzman reaction. Although injn. of colloidal materials abolishes natural or acquired resistance to the Shwartzman phenomenon, Thorotrast did not influence the Shwartzman non-reactivity produced by HN2. The failure of HN2-induced leukopenia to influence the febrile response of rabbits to pyrogenic bacterial materials indicates that pyrogen fever is not dependent upon the presence of normal numbers of circulating leukocytes.