The Action of Sodium Salicylate Upon the Formation of Immune Bodies

Abstract

1. Rabbits treated with sodium salicylate in daily doses of from 0.16 to 0.2 gm. per kilo of body weight and at the same time immunized with intravenous injections of Streptococcus viridans, both living and in the form of vaccines, and also with washed sheep red blood cells, showed diminished complement-fixing antibodies, agglutinins, and hemolysins when compared with controls similarly immunized. 2. If the antigens were treated with sodium salicylate in vitro and subsequently injected intravenously into rabbits, the animals usually showed lower antibody curves than did rabbits that received the untreated antigen intravenously and sodium salicylate by stomach tube. 3. The beneficial effect of sodium salicylate in rheumatic fever patients probably cannot be attributed to an increased production of circulating immune bodies against the infectious agent. This is, however, no contraindication to the administration of salicylates to patients suffering from infectious diseases.

Effect of antipyretic analgesics on immune responses to vaccination

“…16 He used strains of viridans streptococci and Streptococcus pneumoniae type 1 antigens as these bacteria were thought to be the etiologic agents for rheumatic fever at that time. He administered the antigens intravenously to rabbits treated with salicylates (given via gastric tube) and untreated controls.…”

The Effect of Anti-Rheumatic Drugs on the Arthritis and Immune Body Production in Serum Disease

“…He concurs with the opinion, expressed by others, that the inflammatory process is a reaction to an irritating compound which is formed by the local union of antibody and antigen. Several years ago one of us (9) showed that salicylate medication during the course of immunization partially inhibited antibody production in rabbits. The present observations seem to indicate that the two anti-rheumatic drugs used have a similar effect in human beings.…”

Influence of Sodium Salicylate Upon the Arthritis of Rabbits Inoculated With Non-Hemolytic Streptococci

“…The animals receiving salicylates succumbed much more quickly to the streptococcus infection than did the controls. It is true that three of them at first received much larger doses than are usually administered to patients; the other three, however, took amounts comparable to those used in the clinic; moreover, one of us (11) has shown that 0.2 gm. per kilo of body weight can be safely given to normal rabbits over long periods.…”

“…The inflammation might, on the other hand, be so severe that any local antiphlogistic action would fail of demonstration. One of us (11) has shown that inoculated animals, under the influence of salicylates, form fewer immune bodies than do unsalicylated controls. Such results are in line with those here reported.…”