Elevated polymorphonuclear phagocytic function in thalassemia patients by chemiluminescence

Twenty five patients with beta thalassemia major, with no evidence of infection were evaluated for their polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) metabolic function and serum opsonic activity by chemiluminescence assay. These were divided into Group I of normal adults (n = 21), Group II thalassemia major < 5 years (n = 9) and Group III thalassemia major > 5 years (n = 16). The ability of the chemiluminescence assay (CL) to reflect opsonic and phagocytic dysfunction suggested its potential application in the evaluation of phagocytic function. The peak count of Group I was (1.07 +/- 0.24 x 10(-5)), Group II (1.60 +/- 0.83 x 10(-5)) and Group III was (2.71 +/- 0.98 x 10(-5)) respectively in the presence of autologous sera. The peak count compared between Group I and III was found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). The peak count of Group I and II when compared showed a trend in the increase activity not statistically significant. The polymorph function of all the groups were compared with autologous serum as well as normal serum. There was no increase in polymorph function of Group III in the presence of thalassemia serum, nor any decrease in the polymorph function of thalassemia patients of Group II and III. This concluded that polymorphs of thalassemia patients are active in the presence of autologous as well as normal serum. The increased activity of thalassemia polymorphs may be due to antigenic stimulation which may be due to multiple transfusion and not due to circulating iron load.