[The effect of prednisolone on the functional status of phagocytic cells in the peripheral blood of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis].

An immunological study was carried out of 51 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. Two groups of patients were singled out: receiving and not receiving glucocorticoid treatment (prednisolone: 0.3 mg/kg of body weight). It was found that patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis revealed changes of the functional state of neutrophils and monocytes of the peripheral blood manifested in a reduction of their absorptive capacity, number of rosette-forming cells, adhesiveness of neutrophils, increase of oxygen-dependent metabolism, production of lysozyme by neutrophils. Prednisolone treatment effected the state of neutrophils manifested in a reduced acid phosphatase activity; the production of lysozyme increased, the absorptive capacity normalized.