The study of phagocytic activity of granulocytes during the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The phagocytic function of granulocytes from peripheral blood of 14 children with ALL before and during therapy was studied. The children were treated according Pinkel's Protocol VIII. Peripheral blood granulocytes were evaluated for their phagocytic activity by tube phagocytosis test with Staphylococcus aureus. The transient decrease of phagocytic activity after cranial irradiation was noted. This impairment was coupled with increased incidence of infections.