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Transient improvement of polymorphonuclear leukocyte function by splenectomy in β-thalassemia

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Abstract

Host defense mechanisms in transfusion-dependent non-splenectomized patients with β-thalassemia were studied. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) of non-splenectomized patients responded poorly to zymosan generated chemotactic factors. Chemotactic indices were 22.1 μm ± 2.8 (mean ± S.D.) using zymosan activated serum (ZAS) as the attractant in comparison to 20.4 μm ± 2.6 when fresh untreated serum was used. In contrast, chemotactic indices of normal PMNLs increased from 21.1 μm to 33.6 μm ± 3.1 in response to ZAS. Normal PMNL responses to a mixture of normal ZAS and thalassemic serum were inhibited; the mean chemotactic index was 18.1 μm ± 5.1 with use of ZAS alone. Splenectomy temporarily reverses these alterations. Adherence to nylon wool of PMNLs suspended in fresh thalassemic serum prior to splenectomy was 3.1% ± 1.1 (mean ± S.D.); 20 days after splenectomy adherence increased to 14.0% ± 2.8 (P = 0.0001) and remained at this level for 90 days. At 120 and 150 days after splenectomy adherence decreased to 1.5% ± 0.8 and 1.0% ± 0.85 respectively. Splenectomy also transiently abrogated the failure of zymosan to generate chemotactic factors in thalassemic serum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    P. E. Lianou, E. G. Votta & J. T. Papavassiliou

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

    H. P. Bassaris & A. T. Skoutelis

  3. Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University, School of Medicine, IL, Chicago, USA

    J. P. Phair

Authors
  1. P. E. Lianou
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  2. H. P. Bassaris
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  3. A. T. Skoutelis
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  4. E. G. Votta
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  5. J. T. Papavassiliou
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  6. J. P. Phair
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Lianou, P.E., Bassaris, H.P., Skoutelis, A.T. et al. Transient improvement of polymorphonuclear leukocyte function by splenectomy in β-thalassemia. Med Microbiol Immunol 176, 209–215 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196688

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196688

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