Decreased responsiveness to immune complexes of granulocytes from patients with acute leukemia in remission demonstrated by microcalorimetry.

Functional activity of granulocytes from healthy individuals and from patients with acute leukemia in remission was studied. The increase of heat production rate (metabolic activity) after stimulation of the blood cells with in vitro formed immune complexes was measured by microcalorimeters of heat conduction type. It was demonstrated that increased heat production rate after exposure to immune complexes was significantly lower (p less than 0.0005) in 9 patients with acute leukemia with a remission duration of less than 6 months than in 25 healthy volunteers.