Role of neutrophil chemotaxis in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection.

Status of neutrophil chemotaxis was evaluated in seventeen infants and children with acute urinary tract infection. Four different chemotactic factors including those generated by patient's own invading pathogens were studied against patient cells. Chemotactic migration was found to be depressed during active infection and gradually returned to normal after successful eradication of the organisms. During a second episode of UTI chemotaxis again became defective. Inhibition of neutrophil chemotaxis seems to be at least one mechanism in the pathogenesis of UTI. Counteracting the suppression may play a role in modifying the inflammatory process and/or enhancing recovery during therapy.