[Clinico-hemostatic characteristics of serum disease in toxic forms of diphtheria]

Coagulative changes at the height of serum disease were investigated in 28 patients with severe diphtheria. It was found that on day 10 after first injection of diphtheria antitoxin hemocoagulation underwent activation with prevailing thrombogenesis coinciding in time with acute period of serum disease. The severity of serum complications correlated with the degree of coagulation activity. A relationship exists between the amount of the given antitoxin, duration of hormone therapy and occurrence of serum complications. There were specific for serum disease biochemical alterations indicative of destruction of blood cells and vascular-endothelial structures on the disease day 12-14.