Shwartzman Phenomenon

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Shwartzman Phenomenon

A vasculitis, local or systemic, caused by a two-stage reaction in which a first encounter with endotoxin produces intravascular fibrin thrombi whose clearance results in reticuloendothelial blockade which prevents the clearance of thrombi caused by a second encounter with endotoxin, (or a variety of polyanions, glycogen or antigen/antibody complexes) resulting in tissue necrosis and/or hemorrhage. In pregnancy gram-negative septicemia during delivery or abortion may serve as the first or provocative encounter.