[Functional state of the sympathetic-adrenal system in meningococcal infections]

A study of the functional state of the sympathico-adrenal system by determining the diurnal urine excretion of catecholamines and DOPA was conducted in 29 patients with meningoencephalitis of a meningococcal etiology. These studies demonstrated a significant activation of its adrenal link and a tendency to an increase of activity in the sympathical link with a drop of the reserve possibilities. These changes were most distinctly expressed in cases with prevalent localization of the pathological process in the deep brain structures. These facts made it possible to conclude that there is a lesion in the link of a control of the sympathico-adrenal system. These data were confirmed by results of a study in 18 patients with meningococcal infections by physiological loadings with insulin and adrenalin and a study of the catecholamines and DOPA in the urine portions, which exert specific influence on the state of activity of the sympathico-adrenal system through the hypothalamus and reticular formation.