The Induction of Rheumatic-Like Cardiac Lesions in Rabbits by Repeated Focal Infections With Group a Streptococci

Abstract

In a previous communication (1) we presented data indicating that cardiac lesions, closely resembling those characteristic of rheumatic fever in man, had been induced in a small proportion of rabbits that had undergone multiple, successive skin infections with group A streptococci of several serological types. How the hypothesis leading to those experiments evolved is described elsewhere (2).The purpose of this report is to submit additional examples of the rabbit cardiac lesions, together with representative human cardiac lesions from several fatal cases of active rheumatic fever; to describe them and their apparent evolution; and to compare and characterize the two groups, both as to their morphology and pathogenesis.

Experimental Induction of Athero-Arteriosclerosis by the Synergy of Allergic Injury to Arteries and Lipid-Rich Diet

“…Since childhood he had experienced repeated attacks of asthma and many episodes of urticaria. Allergy is probably an important causative factor in rheumatic cardiovascular disease (16,(23)(24)(25)(26)(27) and in the cardiovascular disease of disseminated lupus erythematosus (30,(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(65). Furthermore, it has long been known that rheumatic injury to coronary arteries occurs and in some cases leads to sclerosis of these vessels (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19); and clinico-pathologic observations indicate that injury to coronary arteries caused by disseminated lupus erythematosus also occurs and can lead to sclerosis of these arteries (66,67).…”

“…In two of them spontaneously occurring degenerative changes were present and these were excluded from the analysis to be described. Of the remaining sample of 51 aortas, 16 were from rabbits that received the cholesterol supplement without horse serum (group I), 14 from rabbits that received horse serum without the cholesterol supplement (group II), and 21 from rabbits that received the cholesterol supplement and horse serum (group III). The Kodachrome trans.…”

The role of infections in autoimmune disease

“…These M protein-immunized rats develop cardiac lesions, presenting a good argument that mimicry is a major mechanism of pathology in human rheumatic heart disease. Cardiac lesions can also be induced in rabbits infected with the bacteria [39] and mice immunized with bacterial components [40]. Although somewhat controversial [41,42], infection with S. pyogenes has also been associated with the development of movement and behavioural disorders such as Sydenham chorea, Tourette's syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorder [43,44].…”

Homologous Disease in the Adult Rat, a Model for Autoimmune Disease

“…The animal with homologous disease is known to have a reduced immune response (28) and may, therefore, be subject to infection, although surprisingly, this has so far not been demonstrated in a number of bacteriological studies (29,30) as well as in the cultures of the joints and hearts here reported. Nevertheless, the role of antigens related to infection elsewhere in the body must be considered, since joint (31,32) and heart lesions (33) resulting from hypersensitivity to bacterial antigens have been described in the past. The possibility of hypersensitivity to a virus related antigen must also be taken into account.…”