[Human monocyte function in normal subjects and in certain states of immunologic deficiency]

The functions of peripheral blood monocytes (phagocytosis, bacteriolysis, the metabolism, and catabolism of a protein antigen) have been studied in 12 normal subjects and in 23 patients suffering from either primary or secondary immune deficiency. Phagocytosis and bacteriolysis were altered in 1/3-2/3 of patients with either Hodgkin's disease, sarcoidosis or pulmonary tuberculosis, whereas catabolism of the protein antigen were found to be abnormal in practically all cases of agammaglobulinemia. These results show that monocytes may have intrinsic functional abnormalities in some conditions.