Pseudomonas Septicemia with Intravascular Clotting Leading to the Generalized Shwartzman Reaction

Abstract

FIBRIN is deposited throughout the glomerular capillary bed of a young rabbit given two appropriately spaced injections of bacterial endotoxin. If the animal lives long enough, bilateral necrosis of the renal cortex follows. Slow intravascular coagulation and impaired clearance of damaged fibrinogen and fibrin are two of the probably multiple factors operating to produce this reaction, which is called the generalized Shwartzman reaction. For a reason as yet unknown a single injection of endotoxin invokes the complete reaction in a pregnant rabbit.The difficulty in producing the reaction in animals other than the rabbit has raised the question of its . . .