Defective neutrophil chemotactic responses in patients with recurrent episodes of otitis media and chronic diarrhea
H. R. Hill, L. S. Book, V. G. Hemming and J. J. Herbst
Fourteen patients who had repeated episodes of otitis media and diarrhea
were evaluated to determine if a defect in the host defense mechanism could
account for the unusual incidence of infection. Each of the patients with
recurrent otitis media and diarrhea had a profound defect in neutrophil
chemotactic responsiveness. The mean chemotactic index of the patients was
21 +/- 6, while that of 25 controls was 62 + 10. Other neutrophil
functions, lymphocyte T-cell populations, immunoglobulins, and complement
components were normal in the patients. Serum IgE levels were also normal.
The presence of a defect in neutrophil chemotaxis in these patients with
recurrent otitis media and chronic diarrhea suggests that the phagocyte may
play an important role in protection of the mucosal surfaces of the
respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.
