EFFECT OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION ON THE PHAGOCYTIC FUNCTIONS OF POLYMORPHONUCLEARS IN PATIENTS WITH INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATIC DISEASES

The phagocytosis of blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) was measured by cytofluorometry in 22 patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases before and after a 60-day treatment with 45 mg zinc daily or a placeb o, and the values were compared with those obtained in a group of heal th subjects. Plasma zinc was lower than controls before supplementatio n and phagocytosis assessed by the percentage of PMNs exhibiting phago cytic activity was significantly impaired. Zinc supplementation increa sed the percentage of phagocytic PMNs and the mean phagocytic activity , particularly in subjects with initial low phagocytosis. The impairme nt of PMN phagocytosis could therefore be corrected by zinc supplement ation, but the clinical consequence of this stimulant effect remains u nknown.