[Neutrophil function in children with acute lyphoblastic leukemia].

Neutrophil function has been studied in 12 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia by means of the NBT test and bactericidal assay against E. coli. Tests have been performed before and during treatment. In untreated patients the bactericidal activity of neutrophils was normal, in spite of the decreased number of cells reducing the NBT dye after activation with immuno-complexes. In remission, those patients showed normal reduction. No correlation was observed between the bactericidal power registered after cranial irradiation and the NBT test.