Granulocyte function in untreated acute and chronic granulocytic leukemia.

Untreated patients with acute granulocytic leukemia showed impairment of microbicidal activity and,, in one, this was associated with myeloperoxidase deficiency and staphylococcal infection. In chronic granulocytic leukemia, there was no significant impairment of microbial killing. However, reduction in the capacity to reduce nitro-blue tetrazolium indicated some disturbance of neutrophil function in this disorder.