[Changes in phagocytic performance of neutrophilic granulocytes in chronic liver diseases of various etiologies].

The phagocytic functions and the nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT)-reduction of heat inactivated Saccharomyces cerevisiae blastospores by polymorphnuclear leukocytes in 92 patients with chronic liver diseases and 21 normal human subjects was investigated. The percentage of phagocytizing leukocytes and the number of phagocytized yeast particles/100 leukocytes was only significantly reduced in active alcoholic cirrhosis. A relationship between this findings and highly enhanced sIgA levels of this group is discussed. The NBT-reduction is impaired in all groups with liver disease, the decrease is significant in chronic persistent hepatitis and all groups with alcoholic etiology. The detection of a positive correlation to unspecific stimulation of lymphocytes by PHA and negative correlation to leukocyte migration inhibition by PHA suggested the implication of reactions of cell mediated immunity in NBT-reaction. No relations between phagocytosis, NBT-reaction and autologous serum factors was estimated.