ASSESSMENT OF NEUTROPHIL CHEMOTAXIS AND RANDOM MIGRATION IN CHILDREN WITH THALASSEMIA MAJOR

Neutrophil chemotaxis and random migration were evaluated in 21 patien ts with thalassemia major and 21 healthy controls by a filter techniqu e (Boyden chamber). Chemotactic and random migrations in patient group were found to be defective, which may partially account for the incre ased susceptibility to infection occasionally observed in these patien ts. The effects of serum ferritin bevels, transferrin saturations that show iron overload, total count of blood transfusions for chronic imm unostimulation, desferrioxamine therapy, and splenectomy on these neut rophil functions were examined in thalassemic patients in order to det ermine whether they are responsible for these defective functions beca use the mechanism of abnormal neutrophil chemotaxis and random mobilit y in thalassemic patients is not still clear.