"Streaking leukocyte factor," arthritis, and pyoderma gangrenosum

A 14-year-old boy with a 12-year history of episodes of sterile pyarthrosis and cutaneous inflammation and ulceration was found to possess a serum factor which enhanced the random migration of leukocytes in vitro. The serum factor was isolated by Sephadex G-200 gel filtration and found to have a molecular weight of approximately 160,000. This partially purified principle enhanced the random migration of purified normal human neutrophils or mononuclear leukocytes by up to 200% without influencing chemotaxis. Trauma or other stimuli may lead to an accumulation of this serum factor in some tissues of the patient with resultant excessive leukocyte influx and heightened local activity of the leukocytes in the inflammatory exudate.