Behavior of Blood Cholesterol Following Injections of Tuberculin

Abstract

The literature gives but scant attention to the relation of cholesterol to tuberculosis. It has been found by a few observers that the blood cholesterol is definitely decreased during the activity of the tuberculous process, and this hypocholesterolemia, therefore, may be regarded as an index of poor prognosis. With the improvement of the pathologic process, however, the blood cholesterol rises and during convalescence it may be increased above the normal level. The present experiments endeavor to study the behavior of total blood cholesterol in rabbits following injections of old tuberculin.

A total of 10 rabbits were divided into 2 groups. The first group of 6 rabbits (average weight 1660 gm.) received single injections of 1:10 dilution of old tuberculin, and the blood cholesterol was determined daily by the Bloor method as modified by Sackett. The results are summarized in Table I.

The second group of 4 rabbits (average weight 3340 gm.) were first sensitized by repeated injections of old tuberculin over periods varying from 10-60 days. After rest periods of 2-6 months, these animals were given single injections of tuberculin and the blood cholesterol was followed by the same method as in the first group of animals. The results are summarized in Table II.

The results indicate that these animals respond to the single injections of tuberculin with prompt though transient hypercholesterolemia. This is followed within a week by a return to normal value, which in some instances is first preceded by a fall below the normal level.