A Quantitative Study of the Arthus Phenomenon Induced Passively in the Guinea Pig

Abstract

Summary and Conclusions The severity of the passive Arthus reaction in the guinea pig was studied using known amounts of antigen and antibody. It was shown that complications due to anaphylaxis could be eliminated by proper choice of dosage or of time interval between sensitization and shock. By intravenous sensitization severe Arthus reactions were obtained with 0.41 and minimal reactions with 0.09 mg antibody N. Rabbit and guinea pig antiovalbumin and rabbit antipneumococcus Type III serum (anti-SIII) were equally effective per unit weight in intravenous sensitization for the Arthus reaction. Reactions were of equal severity if the intervals between intravenous antibody and local antigen injections were within one minute, 30 minutes or 24 hours, indicating the absence of a latent period. Reverse Arthus reactions of maximal and minimal severity were obtained by intradermal injection of 0.19 and 0.01 mg anti-EaN respectively. Equivalent weights of non-precipitable (“univalent”) rabbit antiovalbumin were unable to cause Arthus reactions comparable in severity to those produced by the antibody in whole serum. Concentrated horse antipneumococcus Type I serum (anti-SI) was able to induce Arthus reactions but did not confer passive anaphylactic sensitivity in guinea pigs. These reactions were less severe than those produced by equal quantities of rabbit antibody. Rabbit and guinea pig antiovalbumin were equally effective in passive sensitization of rabbits for the Arthus phenomenon. Residual anaphylactic sensitivity following an Arthus reaction in the guinea pig was dependent only upon the proportions of antigen and antibody used in eliciting the Arthus reaction and not on its severity. Evidence is presented indicating the importance, in the Arthus reaction, of circulating antibody and of the passage of intradermally injected antibody into the circulation.