Comparative study of the endotoxin-stimulated nitroblue tetrazolium test in disease and health.

Endotoxin-stimulated nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction was evaluated in 853 individuals: 270 healthy controls, 334 with various non-neoplastic conditions, 220 with solid non-lymphomatous tumours, and 29 with lymphoma. Each of the above groups was divided into three age subgroups: less than 60, 60-69, and greater than or equal to 70 years. In the controls and in patients with nonmalignant diseases, significantly lower values were recorded for elderly subjects (greater than or equal to 60 years) compared with younger subjects of the same group, whereas in cancer patients the results were independent of age. Under the age of 60, stimulated values for both patient groups were significantly lower than the control values, and in patients with solid non-lymphomatous tumours significantly lower values were attained than in the other patients. NBT reduction in lymphoma patients was comparable to that of the controls. In the elderly (age greater than or equal to 70) no significant differences were noted between patients and controls. It is suggested that stimulated NBT reduction declines with advancing age. While this test clearly demonstrates some leucocyte dysfunction in solid cancer, its value in investigating neutrophil behaviour in elderly subjects is questioned.

[1]  T. Meshulam,et al.  Spontaneous and stimulated nitroblue tetrazolium tests of leukocytes from patients with solid malignant tumors. , 1977, American Journal of Clinical Pathology.

[2]  T. Meshulam,et al.  Neutrophil function in cured cancer patients , 1977, Cancer.

[3]  J. Lokich,et al.  Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase activity in patients with malignant disease , 1977, Cancer.

[4]  B. Broch-Møller,et al.  Letter: Hypoglycaemia in propranolol-treated dialysis patients. , 1976, Lancet.

[5]  R. Steigbigel,et al.  Polymorphonuclear leukocyte, monocyte, and macrophage bactericidal function in patients with Hodgkin's disease. , 1976, The Journal of laboratory and clinical medicine.

[6]  J. Humbert,et al.  Decreased neutrophil bactericidal activity in acute leukemia of childhood , 1976, Cancer.

[7]  B. Hancock,et al.  Neutrophil function in lymphoreticular malignancy. , 1976, British Journal of Cancer.

[8]  D. Merzbach,et al.  Standardisation of the nitroblue-tetrazolium test. , 1975, Journal of medical microbiology.

[9]  E. Freimer,et al.  Letter: Ageing, immune response, and mortality. , 1974, The Lancet.

[10]  I. Mackay,et al.  Ageing, immune response, and mortality. , 1974, Lancet.

[11]  J. Bennett,et al.  Nitroblue tetrazolium test in Hodgkin disease and other malignant lymphomas. , 1974, Archives of internal medicine.

[12]  G. Stamatoyannopoulos,et al.  Neutrophil dysfunction, chronic granulomatous disease, and non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia caused by complete deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. , 1973, Lancet.

[13]  R. E. Reed,et al.  The nitroblue tetrazolium test in lymphoma. , 1973, American journal of clinical pathology.

[14]  C. Baxter,et al.  Stimulated nitroblue tetrazolium test to assess neutrophil antibacterial function: prediction of wound sepsis in burned patients. , 1973, Surgery.

[15]  F. Rosner,et al.  Nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction in various hematologic disorders. , 1973, New York state journal of medicine.

[16]  S. Shousha,et al.  Nitro blue tetrazolium test in children with kwashiorkor with a comment on the use of latex particles in the test , 1972, Journal of clinical pathology.

[17]  R. Good,et al.  N.B.T. test stimulated. , 1970, Lancet.

[18]  D. Nathan,et al.  Quantitative nitroblue tetrazolium test in chronic granulomatous disease. , 1968, The New England journal of medicine.