Vascular changes in hyperacute meningococcal sepsis as a manifestation of pathogenic action of immune complexes.

The analysis of post mortem examinations of 175 cases of meningococcal sepsis concentrates on a description of vascular changes as the chief manifestation of the given disease. The changes consisted in the destruction of the endothelium, mucoid swelling or fibrinoid changes of the wall of minute vessels, and disseminated intravascular blood clotting. In sum, these changes can be described as generalized microangiothrombopathy. In the affected vascular walls and in the thrombotic masses the presence of antigen-antibody immune complexes was found. It is therefore possible to regard hyperacute meningococcal sepsis as a manifestation of pathogenic action of immune complexes--as a consequence of massive blood invasion by antigen and of rapid formation of a great number of antigen-antibody complexes.