Influence of some cytostatics on leucocyte function

Phagocytic activity, nitroblue tetrazolium reduction and candidacidal capacity have been studied in a group of normal persons and in three patients with acute leukaemia. The studies were performed in vitro in whole blood to which either a solvent only, or daunorubicin or vincristine had been added. The nuclei of all kinds of leucocytes showed characteristic changes in daunorubicin samples, resembling a beginning necrobiosis. In spite of this, these cells had an unchanged or even an increased phagocyting capacity. Vincristine reduced the phagocyting activity in most cases. The NBT test showed no significant change. Killing function of leucocytes, represented by their candidacidal capacity, was not affected by the cytostatics.