[Luminol-dependent neutrophilic chemiluminescence in patients with chronic nonspecific lung diseases].

To assess the prognostic value of neutrophilic chemiluminescence, an examination was made of 68 patients with chronic bronchitis, 96 with bronchial asthma, and 34 apparently healthy individuals. Metabolic activity was determined by spontaneous and induced chemiluminescence in the whole blood and neutrophilic samples (the procedure being given). Patients with chronic bronchitis or bronchial asthma were found to have much higher metabolic activity in the neutrophils. The high sensitivity of chemiluminescence enables it to be used to determine the natural history of a disease and to check up the efficiency of treatment.