Neutrophil Function in Surgical Patients

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Abstract
• Chemotaxis under agarose and the β-glucosaminidase enzyme-release assay (BGERA) were evaluated for assessing neutrophil function in 44 patients in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU). The 27 patients shown to be angeric to delayed-type hypersensitivity skin tests at entry to the SICU had decreased neutrophil chemotaxis of 2.6 ± 0.2cm (mean ± SEM) and a decreased BGERA result of 22.4%±1.6%. Major sepsis developed in 59% of them, and 44% died. The ten relatively anergic patients (reacting to one antigen) had a normal neutrophil chemotactic response of 3.0±0.2cm and a decreased BGERA result of 20.9%±1.6%. Sepsis developed in 30% of them, and 20% died. The seven reactive patients (reacting to two or more antigens) had a neutrophil chemotaxis of 3.7±0.3 cm and a BGERA result of 18.9%±1.7%. None had sepsis or died. The agarose method correlated best with the delayed-type hypersensitivity response. The BGERA results did not correlate with neutrophil chemotaxis and were not helpful in gauging neutrophil function. (Arch Surg 1984;119:39-43)

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