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Clinical experience in detecting endotoxemia with the limulus test in typhoid fever and other salmonella infections

Klinische Erfahrungen in der Aufdeckung von Endotoxämie durch den Limulus-Test bei Typhus und anderen Salmonelleninfektionen

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Summary

Semiquantitative estimates of circulating endotoxin were performed by the limulus test in patients suffering from typhoid fever and other salmonelloses. The test was positive in a large number of cases. However, no clearcut correlation was found between existence of endotoxemia, as such, and pyrexia. A correlation with recent bacteremia was found for highest levels of endotoxin activity. In minor salmonelloses a striking prevalence of positive cases was observed in the age group under one year. These findings were discussed in relation to the diagnostic and pathogenetic facets of the problem.

Zusammenfassung

An Patienten mit Typhus und anderen Salmonellosen wurden mit Hilfe des Limulus-Tests semiquantitative Bestimmungen des zirkulierenden Endotoxins vorgenommen. Der Test erwies sich in einer großen Zahl von Fällen als positiv. Es fand sich jedoch keine eindeutige Wechselbeziehung zwischen dem Vorhandensein von Endotoxämie als solcher und Pyrexie. Eine Wechselbeziehung zu Bakteriämie wurde nur bei höchsten Werten der Endotoxinaktivität festgestellt. Bei den leichteren Salmonellosen wurde ein auffallendes Überwiegen positiver Fälle in der Altersgruppe unter einem Jahr beobachtet. Diese Befunde wurden im Zusammenhang mit den diagnostischen und pathogenetischen Seiten des Problems diskutiert.

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Magliulo, E., Scevola, D., Burberi, S. et al. Clinical experience in detecting endotoxemia with the limulus test in typhoid fever and other salmonella infections. Infection 4, 21–24 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01638343

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