Endotoxin Shock in the Subhuman Primate: I. Hemodynamic and Biochemical Changes

Endotoxin shock is becoming increasingly important as a cause of death in the pregnant woman. Although hemorrhagic shock is more common in association with pregnancy, septic shock of endotoxin type presents a more complex problem. Despite antibiotics and a large variety of adjunctive agents, the mortality among patients with septic shock ranges from 11% to 82%, 1,2 with an average mortality rate of about 50%. 3 In the face of results such as these, it is evident that attention must be devoted to obtaining more basic knowledge of the pathophysiology of endotoxin shock. Having had considerable experience with the use of dogs, 4-6 rabbits, 7 and guinea pigs, 8 it has become apparent to us that species variations in the endotoxin shock picture limit the extent to which experimental data obtained from the lower animals may be applied to the seriously ill patient. Although it cannot be denied that animal