[Study of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of peripheral blood in acute pneumonia]

Active oxygen forms (AOF) were measured in whole peripheral blood of 40 acute pneumonia patients using luminol-dependent spontaneous chemiluminescence (LDSC) and luminol-dependent zymosan-stimulated chemiluminescence (LDZSC) in the time course of the disease. Within week 1 of the disease both LDSC and LDZSC were increased in the majority of patients whereas low levels of AOF production served a predictor of poor prognosis in relation to acute pneumonia complications. If high intensity of LDSC and LDZSC persisted for 2 weeks pneumonia was likely to resolve completely though complications were possible. Protracted disease was associated with 3-week high AOF production. The data give evidence for possible application of LDSC and LDZSC of whole peripheral blood to predict complications and incomplete resolution of acute pneumonia.