Serum sickness

Serum sickness is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction of the immune system of the type III ( immune complex disease) on the vascular system introduced exogenous proteins and polysaccharides, such as when people antiserum or vaccination serum of animal origin is injected. Antiserum is used to protect against a poison. It is obtained for example as antivenom against snake poison from the blood of " serum horses ". Vaccination serum to protect against it through "passive immunization " against an infectious disease. Rarely, symptoms of serum sickness after a recent infection, occur, for example with the hepatitis B virus. The symptoms of serum sickness are caused by so-called immune complexes. These immune complexes are formed when the body's own antibodies bind to an antigen ( a foreign protein, such as the antiserum, or in the case of infection, a protein of the pathogen ). The immune complexes are deposited in joints, in small vessels, etc., and there lead to the activation of the complement system with damage and inflammation of the appropriate -surrounding structures. This manifests itself in the rule for days with slowly increasing clarity.

The serum disease was first described in 1905 by Clemens von Pirquet and Bela Schick. Because the antibody levels 14 days after infection (here antiserum dose) is the highest, the serum disease was known as " the disease of the 14th day ."

The serum sickness should not be confused with anaphylactic shock ( type I allergy ): This is an immediate reaction of the immune system due to pre-existing antibodies ( reagins ), which therefore occurs with sudden vehemence within minutes.

Symptoms

Symptoms occur within a few days on, but usually within 14 days. There are also extreme cases a period of up to 35 days.

• Rash
• Joint pain
• Fever
• Swelling of the lymph nodes
• Shock
• Fall in blood pressure

Treatment

The symptoms away on their own. In severe cases, corticosteroids and symptomatic analgesics are given.