Impaired in vitro bactericidal power of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in patients with protein calorie malnutrition

Bactericidal power of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was determined in eight patients with protein calorie malnutrition before and after nutritional therapy. Oxygen consumption associated with the uptake of zymosan particle by polymorphonuclear leukocytes, which is an exact reflection of the bactericidal power of leukocytes, was significantly decreased in untreated patients in the presence of both autologous and AB serum when compared with two control groups of eight normal patients. After nutritional therapy, oxygen consumption was found to be in the normal range in the presence of both autologous and AB serum. It is concluded that, in patients with protein calorie malnutrition, polymorphonuclear leukocytes have an intrinsic dysfunction, and this dysfunction is corrected after nutritional repletion.