Defective neutrophil motility in hypovitaminosis D rickets.

The chemotactic activity and random motility of neutrophils, was studied in 38 patients with hypovitaminosis D rickets, and compared with 29 healthy controls of matched age. The chemotactic activity derived from the activated rickets serum as well as the amounts of the complement components C4, C3 and C5 was normal, but the cell motility was clearly defective (p less than 0.001). A possible relationship between defective neutrophil movement and the recurrent infections seen in these patients is suggested. The possible mechanisms responsible for the defect could be the alteration in Ca/P metabolism or a defective action of the vitamin D on the neutrophils.