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The Nitroblue Tetrazolium Test and Acute Myocardial Infarction
A Study in Patients
- CARL B. LAUTER, M.D.;
- M. RIAD EL KHATIB, M.D.;
- JAMES A. RISING, M.D.; and
- ERWIN ROBIN, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Abstract
The nitroblue tetrazolium dye test was evaluated in 16 patients with acute myocardial infarction, a stressful, noninfectious disease. All subjects had positive tests during the acute phase of their illness. Over a 2-week period the values fell into the control range in 7 of 10 patients who were serially tested. Three patients who developed complications had persistently positive tests. There was no correlation between the test and fever, total leukocyte count, or myocardial enzyme values. Anticoagulant therapy did not seem to affect the results. Neutrophil activation was thus shown in patients with acute myocardial infarction. This activation was related to the age of the infarction and seemed to correlate with the stages of maximal neutrophilic infiltration in the damaged areas.
Article and Author Information
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▸From the Hutzel Hospital Medical Unit, Department of Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.
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Grant support: training grant AI00261-09, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; general research support grant 5S01 RR05384-11, National Institutes of Health; grant 70-709, American Heart Association; grants from the Michigan Heart Association; and support by the Research and Education Fund of the Hutzel Hospital Medical Unit.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Erwin Robin, M.D., Section of Cardiology, Hutzel Hospital, 432 E. Hancock Ave., Detroit, MI 48201.
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- Received December 18, 1972.
- Accepted March 19, 1973.
