Studies on phagocytosis in leukemia II. Phagocytic and bactericidal activities of leukocytes and separated granulocytes of the peripheral blood in acute leukemia.
Phagocytic and intracellular killing activities for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains were studies in the 64 cases of acute leukemia. Leukocyte preparations i. e. concentrated white cells in the same proportions as in the patient's peripheral blood (27 cases) and separated granulocytes (35 cases) were used; the control groups consisted of 40 healthy subjects, each. In both methods, a similar defect in the ingesting and intracellular killing capacities could be demonstrated. However, the impairment of phagocytosis was greater in separated granulocytes, and intracellular killing activity, in the leukocyte preparations. The bactericidal activity of phagocytes showed a greater defect than that of phagocytosis. Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of S. aureus strain proceeded less efficiently as compared with E. coli. During the treatment of leukemia an improvement in the phagocytic parameters could be seen in comparison with pretreatment values. Cytostatics did however, exert an adverse effect on the bactericidal activity of granulocytes, when examinations were made on days of their administration.