COMPARISON OF NEUTROPHIL FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH THALASSEMIA MAJOR AND HEALTHY CONTROLS

Background– There are many reports of defective neutrophil function in patients with thalassemia major that lead them to increased susceptibility to acquire infections. Methods– In this study, neutrophil function (i.e. chemotaxis, Candida albicans killing, phagocytosis, opsonization and nitro blue tetrazolium [NBT] reduction) were evaluated in 30 patients with thalassemia major (16 splenectomized and 14 nonsplenectomized) and 30 controls. Results– There were no significant differences in phagocytosis, NBT reduction, and opsonization in neutrophil function between patients and controls. Chemotactic migration and C. albicans killing in the thalassemic patients were found to be defective. There was also a significant difference in chemotactic migration between splenectomized and nonsplenectomized patients. Conclusion– Patients with thalassemia major showed a greater degree of susceptibility to infections than controls.