Bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) as a cause of erythema multiforme.
The classic iris lesions in a patient with erythema multiforme bullosum were reproduced grossly as well as microscopically by the intradermal injection of a variety of heat-killed, Gram-negative bacteria, as well as their common endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide W. In vitro exposure of the patient's blood to these antigens induced specific fibrin microclots characteristic of a hypersensitivity state. It is possible that some cases of erythema multiforme associated with a variety of respiratory, gastrointestinal, or urinary tract infections may represent a single specific delayed sensitivity reaction to the bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide.
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D004892:Erythema Multiforme / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009016:Moraxella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012882:Skin Tests; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial