[Endotoxemia in crush syndrome]

The crush syndrome developing in casualties in mass catastrophes is the cause of their high mortality rates. We examined 18 children aged from 9 to 14 years with the crush syndrome who suffered during the earthquake in Armenia. Besides other laboratory studies, the test for the titer of antibodies (TA) to endotoxin was performed. Despite the applied complex therapy, the children's condition grew worse on day 8. The TA level reduced threefold. Six patients received a single infusion of plasma with naturally increased TA titer in a dose of 10 ml/kg. On the following day after TA infusion, the condition of children in the experimental group improved, the clinical picture of endotoxemia in the control group persisted for 10-12 days.