study of chemiluminescence of leukocytes in insulin dependent diabetic patients

infection is one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. it has been reported that poorly controlled patients are more susceptible to infection, hence we examined the chemiluminescence of leukocytes from insulin dependent diabetic patients in response to a soluble (phorbol meristate acetate) and particular stimulus (opsonized zymosan). the patients were divided into 2 separate groups, only controlled and well controlled, in regard to their blood glucose. using pma as a stimulus leukocytes from both groups, patients showed no significant difference comparing with healthy controls, but that of the 2 groups of patients were significantly different (p<0.05). when opsonized zymosan was used as the stimulus, no statistically significant difference was observed between all of the coupled groups. however, the chemiluminescence of leukocytes from poorly controlled patients was lower than the other groups.