Reduced leukocyte adhesiveness in response to viral versus nonviral infection/inflammation

Background: Viral infection differs from nonviral infection/inflammation by not producing a significant acute phase response. Since inflammation can c ause increased adhesiveness of peripheral white blood cells (WBC), we compa red these adhesive properties in individuals with viral infection to those with nonviral infection/inflammation. Patients and Methods: The state of Leukocyte adhesiveness/ aggregation in t he peripheral blood of patients with viral versus nonviral infection/inflam mation was examined in 101 consecutive patients with acute febrile disease. Results: A significant difference was found between the two groups; 13.6 +/ - 7% for viral infection versus 22.8 +/- 8.5% for nonviral infection/inflam mation (p < 0.0001). There was also a significant difference in the concent ration of fibrinogen (361 <plus/minus> 109 mg/dl vs 554 +/- 172 mg/dl, p < 0.0001), and in the CD11b/CD18 cell surface expression (175 <plus/minus> 66 vs 210 +/- 100 in peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes). Conclusion: The results of this study could explain, at Least in part, the differential adhesive behavior of the WBC in the peripheral blood in the tw o populations.