IMPAIRED NEUTROPHIL CHEMOTAXIS IN PATIENTS WITH THALASSEMIA MAJOR

Random and directed migration, O2- production, degranulation and adhes ion were studied in neutrophils obtained from patients with homozygous beta-thalassaemia and iron overload, in the presence or absence of th alassaemic serum. The only significant defect found was an impairment in directed chemotaxis, further depressed after addition of thalassaem ic serum. The chemotactic defect was encountered in all the patients t hat have suffered from pyogenic infections except one, and was not cor related with the severity of the iron overload. It is suggested that t he described neutrophil migration impairment may contribute to the ten dency towards infection in certain patients with homozygous beta-thala ssaemia.