title: Polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions and multiple sclerosis.
abstract: We tested peripheral blood from 60 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 60 healthy controls for polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) functions and found significant disorders in adherence (9.07% +/- 8.18% for patients versus 28.97% +/- 5.76% for controls), chemotaxis (18.32 +/- 3.1 for patients versus 30.49 +/- 4.52 for controls), phagocytosis (73.6 +/- 25.25 for patients versus 111.2 +/- 25.7 for controls), and bactericidal action (10.35% +/- 5% for patients versus 25.09% +/- 4.82% for controls). All differences were significant (p < 0.001). We confirmed the results by retesting 3 to 8 months later. The depressed PMNL functions in MS patients may explain their increased susceptibility to infections of the respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Athens University Medical School, Goudi, Greece.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Podikoglou
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lianou
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Tsakanikas
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Papavassiliou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D010585:Phagocyte Bactericidal Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012016:Reference Values