Monocyte functional capacity in chronic neutropenia
M. F. Greenwood, E. A. Jones Jr and P. Holland
The bactericidal activity of monocytes from a child with chronic benign
granulocytopenia who has had virtual absence of neutrophils yet minimal
infections since birth was examined against Escherichia coli and
Staphylococcus aureus and compared with that of monocyte and neutrophils
from 20 control subjects. Studies on monocyte function in this patient with
no neutrophils revealed normal monocyte kill of both organisms when
compared with control monocytes. Monocyte and neutrophil killing of both
organisms was similar in control subjects at bacteria to phagocyte ratios
of 1:1. When ratios of 3:1 were employed, however, control neutrophils were
more effective than control and patient monocytes in reducing the number of
viable organisms. These findings support the neutrophil as the more
effective blood phagocyte but stress the importance of monocyte functional
capacity in patients compromised by granulocytopenia or neutrophil
functional defects.