Increased lethality of endotoxemia in murine frostbite

Because frostbite (FB) is associated with increased intravascular coagulability, it is reasonable to assume that endotoxin, by enhancing platelet aggregation, will adversely affect FB. Swiss mice (25 +/- 2 g) were anesthetized, and the tails of the animals totally immersed in a freezing solution of equal volumes of ethylene glycol and water (-18 C) for 8 min. The tails were then thawed at room temperature (24 C). Half an hour after removal from the freezing solution, the animals were given either (Group A) 0.1 cc saline I.P. or (Group B) 0.1 mg E. coli endotoxin (055:B5; 1/3 LD50 dose) in 0.1 cc saline IP. A third group (Group C), was given the same dose of endotoxin but was not subjected to frostbite. Survivals in each group at 2 weeks were as follows: (A) 14/14 (100%), (B) 4/20 (20%), (C) 13/14 (93%). Using Fisher's exact test, A versus B P less than .001; B versus C P less than .001; A versus C NS. The data presented here emphasize the increased lethality of endotoxemia in murine FB.