Defective neutrophil chemotaxis in hypogammaglobulinemia and selective IgA deficiency

Cellular and humoral chemotaxis in vitro in agarose gel was studied in 20 normal subjects, 10 patients with primary hypogammaglobulinemia, and 10 patients with selective IgA deficiency. In six hypogammaglobulinemic patients and in nine with selective IgA deficiency, a severe cellular chemotactic defect was observed. This defect was associated in some patients with severe infections, while in others with mild clinical symptoms there was no chemotactic abnormality. A humoral chemotactic defect was found in only two patients. In two patients with abnormal chemotaxis, treatment with Levamisole resulted in a correction of chemotaxis after 3 months. Various hypotheses regarding the impairment of the chemotactic function in patients with immunoglobulin disorders are discussed.