Short communication. Glycogenosis Ib: neutrophil microbicidal defects due to impaired hexose monophosphate shunt

We studied neutrophil microbicidal function and oxidative metabolic activity in a patient with glycogenosis Ib. The intracellular killing defect and the respiratory burst abnormality in gycogenosis Ib neutrophils were confirmed. The impaired oxygen-dependent microbicidal activity was shown to result from impaired hexose monophosphate shunt activity (impaired endogenous NADPH synthesis) and could be corrected by homogenization of the cells, followed by the addition of exogenous NADPH. Our data are thus consistent with a possible role for glucose-6-phosphate transport in neutrophil microbicidal function. We recommend a continuous prophylaxis with co-trimoxazole in patients with glycogen storage disease Ib.