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Phagocytic Activity of Cells of the Inflammatory Exudate in Human Leukemia¹

Departments of Medicine, Veterans Administration Hospital, and Baylor University College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77031

The phagocytic activity of the granulocytes and the mononuclear cells of the local inflammatory exudate of adult patients with leukemia has been studied by the skin window technic. The cells were exposed to India ink, and their phagocytic activity was expressed as percentage of cells containing particles (phagocytic index).

The capability of granulocytes and mononuclear cells to engulf India ink was significantly reduced in all forms of leukemia, with the one exception of the normal phagocytic activity of granulocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The author speculates that his observations lend support to the thesis that the phagocytic activity of leukocytes capable of participating in the cellular phase of the immune response is depressed in all forms of leukemia. This may be a contributing factor to the increased susceptibility to infections of patients with leukemia.

¹ This investigation was supported by NIH Fellowship Grant No. GF-14,081. National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, and by VA Contract No. M16-64, Veterans Administration Hospital, Houston, Texas.

² Present address: VA Hospital, Hematology Service, Charleston, South Carolina.

Received 3/ 2/67. Accepted 5/22/67.