Congenital and acquired defects of neutrophil granulocytes.

It is now clear that deficiences of the production rate or function of neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes can predispose to recurrent pyogenic infections. Well defined examples of such deficiences include congenital and acquired neutropenias, a dysfunction of neutrophil locomotion and a disorder of neutrophil oxygen metabolism, chronic granulomatous disease, in which affected neutrophils fail to kill catalase-positive microorganisms. The study of congenital and acquired defects of neutrophils has contributed greatly to understanding of normal neutrophil function. This understanding is beginning to permit investigators to exert a "molecular attack" on the difficult problems of neutrophil transfusion and preservation.