Decreased Adherence, Chemotaxis and Phagocytic Activities of Neutrophils from Preterm Neonates

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Abstract
Using microanalytic assays various phagocytic functions of separated neutrophils from preterm neonates (mean birthweight 1 506 g, n = 13) were simultaneously studied. Adherence of neutrophils to nylon fibre was decreased in cells from preterm infants (77.1 ± 3.1 %) when compared with adult controls (86.9 ± 2.1 %, mean ± 1 SD, p -2, in response to Phorbol myristate acetate or opsonized zymosan were identical in cells from either source. We conclude, that these abnormalities of neutrophils could predispose the preterm infant to serious and often overwhelming bacterial and fungal infections.