[Chemiluminescence of whole blood--analysis of the kinetics and application of clinical examination of phagocytic functions of whole blood from various type of diseases].

Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of whole blood (whole blood CL) was developed to estimate the phagocytic function of granulocytes and the serum opsonin activity simultaneously. Whole blood (0.1 ml) was examined directly and results were obtained within 20 minutes. Phagocytic function of granulocytes can be estimated from the peak CL of whole blood and the number of granulocytes in a specimen, and the opsonin activity from the amount of time the peak CL is shown after the addition of nonopsonized CL inducer (nonopsonized zymosan). Subsequently, whole blood CL was measured to evaluate phagocytic functions in children with disease. Patients with chronic granulomatous disease showed no CL, and one of their mothers (1/3) showed low CL, suggesting she is a carrier. Two patients with hypocomplementemia (SLE and chronic nephritis) showed low serum opsonin activity, and phagocytic function of their granulocytes was enhanced. In cord blood and newborn infants serum opsonin activity was low, and phagocytic function of granulocytes was slightly decreased in cord blood but not in newborn infants. Patients with systemic bacterial infections showed an increased phagocytic function of granulocytes. Anti-cancer drugs decreased serum opsonin activity in children with leukemia or lymphoma. The children treated with L-asparaginase had very low opsonin activity, suggesting the drug inhibits complement synthesis. The measurement of whole blood CL was useful for monitering the phagocytic functions of blood after granulocyte transfusion.