Defective monocyte and polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis and clinical characteristics in atopic dermatitis.

Using highly purified cell suspensions, monocyte (MO) and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotaxis was measured by the 51Cr-labeled cells technique in 30 adult patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). MO chemotaxis was depressed in 60% of the patients; in one-third both MO and PMN chemotaxis was impaired. All patients with normal MO chemotaxis had normal PMN chemotaxis. The defective chemotaxis was related to the presence of cutaneous infection and to the activity of the disease. Cutaneous infection was observed in 70% of the patients with low MO and PMN chemotaxis. We found no relation between the chemotaxis defects and serum IgE levels. Presence of asthma in addition to AD did not influence the results. Preincubation of normal leukocytes with AD plasma did not alter the chemotactic responses. Plasma from atopics had a lower capacity for inducing migration than normal plasma using leukocytes from healthy subjects as test cells.