Polymorph function in asthma

In vitro polymorph movement, phagocytosis and bactericidal activity were compared in asthmatics, patients with bacterial infection and control subject. No gross defects were observed, but statistical analysis indicated that asthmatics have depressed polymorph movement (P less than 0.05) and lower augmentation of an intracellular enzyme activity (NBT reduction), associated with bactericidal function (P less than 0.01). As expected, polymorphs from patients with bacterial infection are capable of increased NBT reduction (P less than 0.001). Correlations between a wide range of clinical and laboratory data were also performed by computer analysis. Among significant findings were indications that atopic extrinsic asthmatics, in comparison with intrinsic asthmatics, have raised unstimulated NBT activity (P less than 0.05) and lower augmentation in response to endotoxin (P less than 0.05), as well as increased IgE and eosinophil counts (P less than 0.002). These findings suggest that in extrinsic asthmatics there may be some impairment of polymorph function which would account for an increased tendency to respiratory infections or to a prolonged recovery from such infections.