title: Impaired chemiluminescence and bactericidal killing by neutrophils from patients with severe cobalamin deficiency.
abstract: Neutrophil function was examined in 24 patients with megaloblastic haemopoiesis due to vitamin B12-or folate deficiency. Defective bactericidal activity was demonstrated in the B12-deficient group only and was associated with normal phagocytic activity but impaired intracellular killing. Luminol amplified luminescence was consistently low in B12-deficient subjects with RBC counts of less than 2 X 10(12)/l. These defects were not seen in the folate-deficient cases although isolated abnormalities were present in those who were also alcoholic.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005260:Female; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010587:Phagocytosis; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood*