The effects of ketoconazole on cellular and humoral immune functions

The effects of ketoconazole at varying concentrations on in-vitro neutrophil random migration, chemotaxis to autologous endotoxin--activated serum and the synthetic chemotactic tripeptide N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine, phagocytosis and postphagocytic hexose monophosphate shunt activity and myeloperoxidase--mediated protein iodination were investigated. Neutrophil functions, in-vivo mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation and levels of serum immunoglobulins and complement components were also assessed before and after ingestion of ketoconazole by six individuals. It was found that ketoconazole caused stimulation of neutrophil migration to leucoattractants 2 h after ingestion of a single dose of 400 mg ketoconazole. This stimulation was not sustained. The drug had no effect on the random migration of neutrophils. Likewise serum levels of the immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA, total haemolytic complement and serum levels of the complement components C3 and C4 were unaffected. Ketoconazole in vitro had no effect on the neutrophil functions tested. Ingestion of ketoconazole caused a slight inhibition of lymphocyte mitogen-induced transformation.