M. Onerci et al., THE EFFECT OF TONSILLECTOMY ON NEUTROPHIL CHEMOTAXIS IN ADULTS WITH CHRONIC TONSILLITIS, European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology, 252(8), 1995, pp. 488-490
Neutrophil random motility and chemotactic responsiveness were determi
ned in 17 healthy adults and 19 adult patients with chronic tonsilliti
s before and 10 days after tonsillectomy, using a modified Boyden cham
ber method. The mean chemotactic index values of the healthy controls
were significantly higher when compared with the chronic tonsillitis p
atients before tonsillectomy. The postoperative mean chemotactic value
s were increased, and there was a statistically significant difference
between the mean chemotactic index of neutrophils in preoperative and
postoperative patients. The authors conclude that this change in host
defense mechanism may be the reason for frequent attacks of acute ton
sillitis in these patients.