Autosputum Therapy

AUTOSPUTUM THERAPY (from Greek autos- self, Latin sputum- sputum and Greek therapia- treatment), treatment of sputum ground with physiological solution and sterilized by heating, proposed for bronchial asthma (Solis Cohen). More rational is immunization with a vaccine from bacteria in sputum. According to Scheller, sputum is seeded on agar, the seeding is washed off with physiological solution and sterilized by heating. Raekemann and Walker applied a vaccine from those bacteria in sputum that gave a positive skin reaction. Rogers recommends preparing an autogenous vaccine from strepto- and pneumococci isolated from the sputum of the patient. Montgomery and Sicard applied a vaccine from bacteria predominating in sputum. According to Storm van Leeuwen, injections of vaccine should be made every 2-3 days, gradually increasing the dose until the appearance of local and general reaction, after which the dose that proved active is administered 1-2 times a week, then every two weeks. A break is made for 2-3 weeks, then treatment is repeated in the same order as the first time. Treatment continues from several weeks to a year or more. The results of treatment are noted after the first series of injections: if no improvement occurs, then sputum-vaccine therapy should be abandoned. The concentration of vaccine is established at 100 million bacterial bodies per 1 cubic cm. If the first injection of 0.1 cubic cm causes an attack, the dose should be reduced. Large doses of vaccine are not indicated, as they often cause intensification and increased frequency of attacks. Treatment with autogenous vaccine is indicated primarily for bronchial asthma, in which it leads in 50-75% of patients to weakening or cessation of attacks. Scheller recommends such treatment for chronic bronchitis. Contraindicated are extreme degrees of allergic conditions, in which even minimal doses of antigen cause exacerbation of the disease process, but such conditions are rare. In view of the fact that small doses of vaccine are used for treatment, there are no absolute contraindications.

m. Shutzer.