A modified leucocyte adhesiveness/aggregation test as a sensitive marker for revealing inflammatory response in patients with acute infections

Based on data from previous studies showing that infection/inflammation is associated with an increased state of leucocyte adhesiveness/aggregation in peripheral blood, we modified a simple slide test so that it would reveal not only the cell-to-cell interactions but also cell adhesiveness toward glass surfaces. The study population included 30 patients with acute infectious conditions and 32 marched controls. A white blood cell count and a modified slide test was done on every patient. The mean percent of leucocyte aggregation in the upper part of our slides - which was assumed to contain the most sticky cells - was 35 times greater for the patients than for the controls (5.6% vs 0.16%). Although both the leucocyte count and adhesiveness/aggregation test could effectively differentiate between the two groups, the latter might add additional functional information to the former, thus facilitating the differentiation between them. In addition, it might serve as a rapid, inexpensive and reliable alternative in small clinics or when a leucocyte count is not readily available.