Production of generalized Shwartzman reaction in rabbits with nitrogen mustard-induced granulocytopenia.

Abstract

Discussion and SummaryThe present results resemble those which Johnstone and Howland(7) obtained with nitrogen mustard and with total body irradiation applied before the local Shwartzman reaction. Their conclusion that there was no threshold granulocyte concentration below which the local Shwartzman reaction cannot be produced was opposed to the earlier findings of Stetson and Good(8) and others(3,9). The situation regarding the generalized Shwartzman reaction has not yet been re-examined.Thomas and Good in all their experiments gave a preparative dose of endotoxin either 3 days after nitrogen mustard, and none of the 15 rabbits developed the reaction, or they gave nitrogen mustard 12 hours or 6 days prior to endotoxin, and with normal granulocyte counts there was a high incidence of generalized Shwartzman reaction. The experiments, however, show a significant inhibition concomitant with granulocytopenia only 3 days after nitrogen mustard. If the animals were challenged 4 or 5 days after nitrogen mustard ...