POLYMORPHONUCLEAR CELL-FUNCTION IMPAIRMENT IN PATIENTS WITH CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS UROGENITAL INFECTIONS

The phagocytic and killing functions of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and monocytes in patients with culturally and serologically proven Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital infections, and the distribution of peripheral blood T cell subsets in the same patients were analysed. A significant impairment of PMNs function was observed in infected patients as compared to the control group, whereas the monocyte function was not affected. In addition, a decrease of CD4+ cells frequency was observed in these patients. Since the PMNs are the most prominent cells observed at the site of C. trachomatis infection, we suggest that a defect of PMNs function may play a role in the host susceptibility to C. trachomatis.