Monocyte locomotion in anergic chronic brucellosis patients: the in vivo effect of ascorbic acid.

In 14 patients suffering from relapsing chronic brucellosis who were anergic to brucella antigens, we have studied peripheral blood monocyte random migration and chemotaxis against non-specific and specific leukoattractants, as well as plasma and monocyte ascorbic acid levels. We found that all parameters studied, were significantly beneath normal, when compared to normal subjects. After the oral administration of ascorbic acid at a daily dose of 1gr for 15 consequetive days, random and directed migration against a non-specific stimulus (casein) returned to normal.