A serum inhibitor of neutrophil chemotaxis associated with hyperglobulinaemia E in a patient with lymphoma, and recurrent skin infection.

A patient with a strong serum inhibitor of neutrophil chemotaxis, a possible chemotactic factor inactivator and hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E is described. The patient had a persistent chronic dermatitis which appeared to develop following radiation of the central nervous system for an unclassified lymphoma. Other abnormalities included a general increase of serum immunoglobulins, impaired lymphocyte response to mitogens, and a high Epstein-Barr antibody titre. This case illustrates that an increased IgE level, previously reported in association with a cellular chemotactic defect, may coexist with serum inhibitors of neutrophil chemotaxis.