Serum proteins and endotoxins in chronic ulcerative colitis

Abstract

Summary In patients who have ulcerative colitis, there is a significant increase in gammaglobulin which parallels an important decrease in serum albumin. Intradermal injection of epinephrine into the skin of the abdominal wall of the rabbit, followed by intravenous injection of serum from a patient with necrotic lesions of the digestive tract and symptoms of endotoxemia, caused a necrotic ulcer in the rabbit's skin. Microscopic examination of this lesion revealed necrosis and hemorrhage with characteristics very similar to those observed in the Schwartzman and Thomas phenomena. From these observations it seems appropriate to conclude that, in the active phases of ulcerative colitis, circulating endotoxins are present.