title: Assessment of limulus test for detecting endotoxaemia.
abstract: The occurrence of endotoxaemia in 46 surgical patients has been investigated using a sensitive preparation of limulus lysate. Altogether 23 patients with local and systemic Gram-negative infections were shown to have endotoxaemia. An overt infection is not a prerequisite for a positive limulus test result, since endotoxin can be absorbed via the peritoneal cavity in patients with "chemical" peritonitis. Over 70% of the tests performed during episodes of Gram-negative infection or peritonitis gave positive results. In 23 patients without clinical evidence of infection or peritonitis only 15% of the limulus test results were positive. The implications of these findings and the use of the test in clinical practice are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D001181:Arthropods / Q000276:immunology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000150:complications; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014115:Toxemia / Q000097:blood; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins