Background. Infectious diseases are a major source of morbidity and mortali
ty for immunosuppressed transplant recipients and the antimicrobial chemoth
erapy can be often less effective in these individuals, because the contrib
ution of underlying host defenses is absent.
Methods. The influence of co-amoxiclav on the functions of polymorphonuclea
r granulocytes (PMNs) from renal transplant recipients were investigated.
Results, PMNs from renal transplant recipients showed a diminished phagocyt
ic activity with reduced phagocytosis and bactericidal activity against int
racellular Klebsiella pneumoniae, compared to that seen with PMNs from heal
thy subjects. Co-amoxiclav significantly elicited the functions of PMNs fro
m uremic patients, resulting in an increased percentage of ingested klebsie
llae and in a higher bactericidal effect (98-99%), compared with the drug-f
ree control system. When PMNs were collected from renal transplant recipien
ts treated with co-amoxiclav a significant high increase in both phagocytos
is and killing activity were detected, showing the co-amoxiclav capability
of "restoring" even in vivo the depressed primary functions of PMNs.
Conclusions. The interesting beneficial properties of co-amoxiclav, which r
esult in restoring the phagocyte-dependent response in renal transplant pat
ients both in vitro and in vivo, may make this drug more suitable for the t
reatment of infections in patients with defects of phagocyte functions.