[Phagocytic activity of platelets in patients with pneumonia]

In 22 patients with pneumonia the per cent of phagocytizing platelets and the phagocytosis index of the platelets were determined before treatment and in 14 patients this was done after treatment. Before treatment the per cent of phagocytizing platelets was 1.37%, on average, and after treatment it was 1.20, and it was thus much lower than in the control group X 2.33. The phagocytosis index before treatment was 1.39 on average, and after treatment it was 1.28, while in the control group it was 1.54. The obtained results seem to indicate that in pneumonia platelets participate in the antibacterial processes and the lungs as a thrombopoietic organ contribute to this phenomenon.