EFFECTS OF MONOCYTOPENIA AND ANTICOAGULATION IN EXPERIMENTAL STREPTOCOCCUS-SANGUIS ENDOCARDITIS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (1) , 108-116
Abstract
The role of blood monocytes in the attachment of streptococci to endocardial vegetations was investigated in an experimental S. sanguis endocarditis by depletion of blood monocytes with the cytostatic drug VP 16-213 [4''-demethylepipodophyllotoxin-.beta.-D-ethylidene] alone and combined with anti-coagulant treatment with warfarin sodium. The numbers of streptococci in the vegetations of control, monocytopenic and monocytopenic/anti-coagulated rabbits were comparable. In the vegetations streptococci were found mainly in areas free of phagocytic cells. Streptococci thus do not have to be phagocytosed by monocytes in the circulation before being deposited on the surface of endocardial vegetations. Even the vegetations of intensively anti-coagulated/monocytopenic rabbits showed colonies of streptococci embedded in polymerized fibrin and cellular material, this matrix possibly being held together by streptococcal dextran.