Lactoferrin Deficiency Associated with Altered Granulocyte Function

EIGHT years ago Strauss et al. reported unique structural abnormalities in the granulocytes of a boy who had had recurrent bacterial infections since birth.1 The nuclei were bilobed, and in ultrastructural studies the specific-granule membranes appeared as elongated vesicular sacs. After ingestion of Staphylococcus aureus by the cells, impaired phagolysosome fusion was noted; this was accompanied by a mild impairment in bactericidal activities. Since the initial study the patient has continued to have recurrent deep-seated skin abscesses, which we have been able to ameliorate with trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. We have extensively reevaluated this 25-year-old patient's granulocytes, studying their morphology, biophysical . . .