[Leukocytic functional and metabolic activity in patients with morphea guttata].

Cytochemical techniques were used to study the functional and metabolic activity of neutrophilic granulocytes in 36 patients with morphea guttata. The levels of major microbicidal components (cationic protein, glycogen, lipids, myeloperoxidase, and acid phosphatase) were measured during a pathological process. Extremely important regularities were revealed: with active clinical manifestations, there was a significant inhibition of the activity of myeloperoxidase, the level of cationic proteins, intracellular lipids and a considerable increase in the activity of acid phosphatase and the content of glycogen in the cells; normalization of leukocytic metabolic activity occurs at remission. The authors show it possible to clinically use the determination of the major components of the microbicidal system in order to assess nonspecific responsiveness in patients with morphea guttata for diagnostic and prognostic purposes.