Shwartzman phenomenon
Shwartzman phenomenon
Shwartzman phenomenon (pronunciation: /ʃwɔːrtsmən fəˈnɒmɪnən/) is a medical condition characterized by a specific response to a certain type of bacterial infection or exposure to endotoxins.
Etymology
The term is named after the Russian pathologist Gregory Shwartzman (1896–1965), who first described the phenomenon in 1928.
Definition
The Shwartzman phenomenon is a two-step pathophysiological process. The first step, known as the Sensitization phase, involves exposure to an endotoxin, which primes certain cells in the body. The second step, or the Challenge phase, involves a second exposure to the endotoxin, which triggers a severe reaction, often resulting in damage to the walls of blood vessels (vasculitis) and subsequent clot formation (thrombosis).
Related Terms
- Endotoxin: A toxin that is present inside a bacterial cell and is released when the cell disintegrates.
- Vasculitis: Inflammation of the blood vessels.
- Thrombosis: The formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system.
- Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC): A condition in which blood clots form throughout the body's small blood vessels.
See Also
- Sanarelli-Shwartzman phenomenon: A similar condition, but caused by different bacteria.
- Gregory Shwartzman: The pathologist who first described the Shwartzman phenomenon.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Shwartzman phenomenon
- Wikipedia's article - Shwartzman phenomenon
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