Monitoring of phagocytic activity in histiocytic cytophagic panniculitis

Histiocytic cytophagic panniculitis presents with subcutaneous panniculitis . Histologically, it is characterized by phagocytosis of blood cells in the subcutaneous tissue and bone marrow. One patient with histiocytic cytophag ic panniculitis is described in whom hemophagocytosis by macrophages and hi stiocytes was observed histologically and was confirmed in vitro measuring phagocytosis by peripheral blood monocytes by means of chemiluminescence. I n vitro measurements of phagocytosis corresponded well with the clinical co urse. Chemiluminescence for measuring phagocytosis in vitro may he suitable for analyzing disease activity and fur testing therapeutic compounds in vi tro.