Anorexia nervosa and polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocyte reactions.

10 patients with anorexia nervosa were compared with controls with normal weight, regarding their peripheral blood polymorphonuclear (PMN) granulocyte reactions. The anorexia patients showed a statistically significant decrease in PMN bactericidal capacity and PMN adherence. The mean chemotaxis did not differ, but in two of the anorexia patients chemotaxis was almost absent. The intracellular activity of alkaline phosphatase was below the reference values in 5 of the 6 patients in whom it was investigated. It is concluded that changes in granulocyte function may be noted in anorexia nervosa, but their clinical significance is uncertain, as no patients had recurrent or severe infectious diseases.