Leucocyte function in a case of chronic benign neutropenia of infancy associated with circulating leucoagglutinins

A case of chronic benign neutropenia is described in association with circulating leucoagglutinins. IgG and IgM leucoagglutinins demonstrated by Sephadex G-200 chromatography agglutinated neutrophils and monocyte enriched leucocyte preparations. Total IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE, total haemolytic complement, C3 and C4 complement components were all within normal limits. Lymphocyte populations and transformation were normal apart from a relative increase in the number of B lymphocytes. In vitro studies showed that the patient's monocytes responded in chemotaxis, phagocytosis and intracellular killing of S. aureus in a comparable fashion to that of control neutrophils. Although the patient's serum also agglutinated monocytes these findings do not exclude the possibility that leucoagglutinins may have aetiological significance in this disease. The study also emphasizes the versatility of the monocyte in benign neutropenia.