E. col/ ENDOTOXIN SHOCK IN THE DOG; TREATMENT WITH LIDOCAINE OR INDOMETHACIN

Abstract

Dogs treated with lidocaine (1 mg kg−1 h−1) or indomethacin (1.5 mg/kg) before and after an LD60 dose (1 mg/kg) of E. coli endotoxin survived for at least 72 h. Although all dogs in both treated groups survived, only those treated with indomethacin were significantly protected against the fall in the arterial blood pressure 1 to 2 min following endotoxin administration. Endotoxin increased the plasma prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) concentration in the control and lidocaine‐treated groups, however, no increase was observed with indomethacin treatment. Neither lidocaine nor indomethacin alone had any significant effect on the parameters measured in this model. Following the administration of endotoxin, lidocaine‐treated animals had significantly decreased plasma fibrinogen concentrations when compared to the other groups. This study suggests that lidocaine, a local anaesthetic and a drug widely used for cardiac arrhythmias, might offer protection in endotoxin shock. 1978 British Pharmacological Society