[Functional state of peripheral blood neutrophils in children with rheumatism and borderline conditions]

The authors discuss the effect of exotoxin of beta-hemolytic streptococcus (streptolysin-O) on the chemotactic activity of the peripheral blood leukocytes. 107 children with various forms of rheumatic fever and acute diseases of Streptococcal etiology and 18 healthy children were examined. The absence of the phenomenon of a specific chemotactic deactivation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in response to streptolysin-O in healthy persons and in those suffering from rheumatic fever has been revealed. Sharply marked sensitization of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to streptolysin-O in patients with rheumatism increasing in the course of the disease and remaining in the inactive phase has been noted. The functional activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes is characterized by chemotactic deactivation in response to streptolysin O that probably provides a favorable outcome of the disease.