PHAGOCYTIC RETICULOENDOTHELIAL CELLS IN SUBACUTE BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS WITH NEGATIVE CULTURES

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Abstract
A study was made at the Mayo Clinic of the records of 273 patients with subacute bacterial endocarditis in whom blood smears were available. A total of 228 of these patients had positive results of blood cultures; 176 of these 228 patients did not have any reticuloendothelial cells of the phagocytic type in their blood smears. The other 52 patients (23%) did exhibit reticuloendothelial cells, which were actively phagocytic in 19 instances. Blood cultures in the remaining 45 patients were consistently sterile. Blood smears in 15 patients showed reticuloendothelial cells, with active phagocytosis being noted in 12 of these 15 patients. The value for blood urea was increased in 5 of 13 patients with subacute bacterial endocarditis and sterile blood cultures. The number of reticuloendothelial cells and the amount of active phagocytosis tended to be greater in this group.