[The characteristics of the oxidative metabolism of the blood neutrophils in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia].

Activity of enzymes involved in the bactericidal properties of neutrophils and their capacity to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium were studied in 60 patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). AML patients with infectious complications showed significantly higher values of enzyme activity than AML patients without such complications, although the values in the control group (patients without leukemia but with inflammatory conditions of the nasopharynx) were higher than in any of AML patients. The conclusion is drawn that the decrease of the bactericidal properties of neutrophils is linked with the disturbance of their oxidative metabolism thus resulting in frequent infections complications in patients with AML.