The Effect of Cytotoxic and Anti‐inflammatory Drugs on the Phagocytosis of Neutrophil Leucocytes

Abstract

The phagocytosis of heat-killed Candida albicans by neutrophil leucocytes was inhibited in vitro by phenylbutazone and acetylsalicylic acid and by the cytotoxic drugs vincristine, vinblastine, cytosine arabinoside, daunorubicin and busulphan, but not by mustine hydrochloride or procarbazine. In vivo studies in man have shown a significant reduction in phagocytosis after phenylbutazone ingestion, but not following an oral dose of aspirin. Possible explanatory mechanisms of drug action on neutrophil phagocytosis are discussed.