INHIBITION OF MACROPHAGE PROCOAGULANT ACTIVITY WITH LIPIDS REDUCES INTRAABDOMINAL ABSCESS FORMATION IN MICE

Macrophage procoagulant activity (PCA) has been proposed as a critical element in the formation of intra-abdominal abscesses. We tested the ability of local and systemic lipids (a known PCA inhibitor in vitro) to alter both peritoneal macrophage PCA and mixed Escherichia coli/Bac teroides fragilis intra-abdominal abscess formation in vivo. Lipids gi ven intraperitoneally inhibited measured inducible peritoneal macropha ge PCA for 8 h, and, in other animals, significantly decreased the num ber of abscesses formed and prevented abscesses in 29% of animals. Par allel experiments using subcutaneous intralipids did not show these ef fects. These results support the hypothesis that macrophage PCA produc ed locally is critical for intraperitoneal abscess formation.