CLINICAL AND HEMOSTATIC CHARACTERIZATION OF SERUM DISEASE IN TOXIC DIPHTHERIA

Coagulative changes at the height of serum disease were investigated i n 28 patients with severe diphtheria. It was found that on day 10 afte r first injection of diphtheria antitoxin hemocoagulation underwent ac tivation with prevailing thrombogenesis coinciding in time with acute period of serum disease. The severity of serum complications correlate d with the degree of coagulation activity. A relationship exists betwe en the amount of the given antitoxin, duration of hormone therapy and occurrence of serum complications. There were specific for serum disea se biochemical alterations indicative of destruction of blood cells an d vascular-endothelial structures on the disease day 12-14.