Failure of neutrophil chemotactic function in septic patients.

Objective: To investigate the in vitro chemotactic function of neutrophils obtained from patients with sepsis.

Design: Prospective study in which purified neutrophils obtained from septic patients and nonseptic control volunteers were assayed for chemotactic function induced by N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP) and leukotriene B4. The sera nitrate concentrations also were quantified.