CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF NEUTROPHIL FUNCTIONAL-ACTIVITY IN HIV-INFECTION

Functional activity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) was tested in 63 HIV-1 infected patients. PMN chemiluminescence (CL) and intracel lular enzyme activity were both depressed in patients at all stages of infection, though this depression was more pronounced in AIDS patient s. We found no such depression when cells were incubated in the presen ce of autologous serum. PMN phagocytosis in the presence of serum was reduced in the early stage of HIV infection (LAS) but was in the norma l range in AIDS patients. No differences in PMN functional activity be tween patients with LAS and those with dermatological disorders were f ound. The appearance of recurrent upper respiratory tract infection wa s associated with reduced PMN CL. The most pronounced changes in PMN a ctivity were observed in patients with severe, recurrent bacterial pne umonia and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. A lower level of PMN activi ty was found in patients with infection progressing rapidly towards AI DS than in patients with a relatively stable course of infection. Thus , PMN CL may be regarded as a predictive factor for the progression of HIV infection.