The prevention of the generalized Shwartzman reaction with sodium warfarin.

Using intravenous sodium warfarin, rabbits were rendered hypoprothrombinemic and subjected to two intravenous injections of Shear's polysaccharide. None of the 9 animals surviving the required period of time developed bilateral renal cortical necrosis or histologic thrombi in the kidney, liver, spleen, or lungs. In a control group of 7 animals treated only with endotoxin, 6 developed bilateral renal cortical necrosis. It is concluded that the prothrombin complex is necessary for the production of the generalized Shwartzman reaction by bacterial endotoxins and that this phenomenon is essentially a process of disseminated intravascular coagulation.