Phagocytosis of cadmium microcrystals by glass-adherent peripheral blood leucocytes of newborns with various perinatal risks.

Using cadmium microcrystals saturated with human serum albumin as particles for the phagocytic assay, the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood glass-adherent leucocytes of 32 preterm infants, 15 small-for-date newborns, 14 term newborns with perinatal asphyxia and 27 term newborns of diabetic mothers was compared with healthy term newborns and normal adults. A statistically significant increase in both the percent of phagocytosing cells and in the mean number of engulfed particles per cell was found in all groups of "stressed" infants as compared with cells of adults. No difference in the proportion of actively phagocytosing cells was found between term healthy and stressed neonates; as regards the mean number of ingested particles per cell, a slight increase (however, statistically not significant) was found in all groups of infants with perinatal risks compared with normal infants suggesting a temporary stimulation of these cells.