Microbicidal function of the neutrophils in hairy-cell leukaemia

The ability of neutrophils from patients with hairy-cell leukaemia to kill Candida guilliermondii and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro was investigated. Of 10 patients, 8 showed defective candida killing, 5 defective bacteria killing, in comparison with normal controls. Study of those patients who underwent splenectomy suggests that neutrophil function can be improved by splenectomy. The possible causes of defective function in this disease are discussed.