Immune
blockade impedes blood poisoning
The deactivation of certain white
blood cells that makes sepsis such a deadly disease is reversed in rats
given a novel antibody.
References:
Czermak, B.J. ... and P.A. Ward. 1999. Protective effects of C5a
blockade in sepsis. Nature Medicine 5(July):788.
Further Readings:
Bernard, G.R., et al. 1997. The effects of ibuprofen on the
physiology and survival of patients with sepsis. New England Journal
of Medicine 336(March 27):912.
Shaw, W.H. 1997. Strategies for the treatment of sepsis. New England
Journal of Medicine 336(March 27):952.
Solomkin, J.S., et al. 1981. Neutrophil dysfunction in sepsis
II. Evidence for the role of complement activation products in cellular
deactivation. Surgery 90:319.
Stevens, J.H., et al. 1986. Effects of anti-C5a antibodies
on the adult respiratory distress syndrome in septic primates. Journal
of Clinical Investigation 77:1812.
Sources:
Kevin J. Tracey
North Shore University Hospital
4th Floor
350 Community Drive
Manhasset, NY 11030
Peter A. Ward
University of Michigan
Medical School
M5240/0602
1301 Catherine Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0602
From Science
News, Vol. 156, No. 3, July 17, 1999, p. 36.
Copyright © 1999, Science Service.
