Experimental meningococcal septicemia. Effect of aspirin therapy.
In previous studies we have presented morphological evidence that the terminal shock-like phase of fatal meningococcemia is caused by the occlusion of the pulmonary microcirculation with thrombi composed of platelets, leukocytes, and fibrin. We have also shown that in experimental meningococcemia, pretreatment of rabbits with heparin sodium prevents fibrin formation but does not influence the cellular pulmonary thrombi and does not prolong survival. If our theory is correct, drugs that inhibit platelet aggregation and leukocyte adhesion in rabbits should prolong life. The present experiment demonstrates that pretreatment with a small dose of aspirin doubles the survival time without altering the mortality.
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