Inflammatory Reaction of the Immune Animal to Antigen (Arthus Phenomenon) and Its Relation to Antibodies

Abstract

When horse serum is injected into the subcutaneous tissue of a rabbit it is absorbed within a few hours with no evident inflammatory reaction but if the injection is repeated at intervals of several days the animal reacts with acute inflammation at the site of injection. This phenomenon was first noted by Arthus (1) and has been designated by his name. After the fourth subcutaneous injection the skin about the injection becomes red and there is a soft edematous infiltration which disappears after two or three days. After the fifth injection infiltration is firmer and persists five or six days. After the sixth injection severe injury to the edematous subcutaneous tissue is evident and a solid white mass resembling pus is formed. In most instances after the seventh injection the skin undergoes necrosis. The gangrenous area separates slowly from the surrounding tissue and cicatrization occurs after several weeks.