RESUMO
The aim of the study was to assess the oxidative metabolism of the unstimulated and zymosan-stimulated neutrophils expressed as the production of superoxide anion radicals, and to determine the plasma O2 levels in the patients with initial "outside-hospital" pneumonia. The study included 20 patients with the initial symptoms of "outside-hospital" pneumonia. The plasma erythrocytes and leukocytes were isolated from the basilic vein blood collected in fasting state, and the preparation containing over 99% of neutrophils was prepared. The amount of superoxide anion radicals produced by neutrophils and their plasma levels were determined using the method of cytochrome reduction--c 5x10(-5) M/l. The patients with initial pneumonia show increased oxidative metabolism demonstrated by higher production of superoxide anion radicals by neutrophils and by elevated plasma O2 levels. Determinations of the plasma superoxide anion radical levels in pneumonia patients may be a practical and easily accessible indicator of the activation of neutrophil oxidative metabolism.
