Granulocyte function disorders: aspects of development, genetics and management

The field of phagocytic disorders has attained major biologic and clinical significance in the past 40 years. The development of exciting new techniqu es in molecular biology and the cellular physiology of signal transduction have made it possible to identify the genetic defects involved in many of t hese disorders. Moreover through immunopharmacologic intervention, bone mar row or peripheral or cord blood stem cell transplantation along with the pr ospect of gene therapy, we have begun attempts to at least partially correc t genetic defects in cell development and activation pathways in the entire spectrum of phagocyte disorders. Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis employing with chain reaction techniques or direct nucleotide sequencing in fetal blood have made these diseases potentially preventable or treatable in utero or shortly after birth.