Altered monocyte function in patients with benign breast disease.

Monocyte migration, lysozyme production and phagocytosis was studied in 34 patients with fibroadenosis, 28 patients with fibroadenoma and 48 healthy female controls. In patients with fibroadenosis and fibroadenoma, monocyte migration and phagocytic activity were significantly reduced when compared to controls (P less than 0.001). Conversely, lysozyme production by monocytes from patients with benign breast disease was significantly higher than in controls (P less than 0.001). In 20 patients with benign breast disease, there was no significant difference in monocyte function before and 3 months after operation. The observed impairment of monocyte function in fibroadenosis and fibroadenoma would not appear to be the result of abnormal blood biochemistry or due to a direct serum inhibitor, but is probably related to an intrinsic cellular defect. Further studies are required to evaluate the significance of impaired monocyte function in the pathophysiology of benign breast disease.