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Immunologic Specificity of the Localized Shwartzman Phenomenon Induced in Guinea Pigs by Simple Chemical Haptens

Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, and the Medical Research Department, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basle, Switzerland

Abstract

Guinea pigs possessing delayed-type hypersensitivity to haptens such as Neoarsphenamine (NEO) or to 2-4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) show a hemorrhagic reactivation of the inflammatory lesions caused 48-hr before by the intradermal injection of the hapten, when challenged intravenously with those haptens. This hemorrhagic reactivation closely resembles the localized Shwartzman phenomenon to bacterial endotoxins. By varying the type of sensitization (single or double sensitization, tolerance or absence of sensitization), the type of intradermal preparatory injection (delayed-type allergic or primary toxic reaction) and the hapten used for intraveneous challenge, it is possible to demonstrate unequivocally a close relationship of the localized hemorrhagic reactivation phenomenon with specific immunologic reactions.

These experiments indicate that the localized hemorrhagic reactivation depends on different molecular mechanisms from those of the Arthus reaction. They establish an obligatory relationship with delayed-type reactivity in the preparation of susceptible skin sites, although the elicitation of the phenomenon itself may be nonspecific.