The effects of amphotericin B, fluconazole and miconazole on neutrophil and lymphocyte function in a guinea pig model.

We studied the effects of amphotericin B, fluconazole and miconazole on guinea pig neutrophil and lymphocyte function. Neutrophil adherence, chemotaxis, and deoxyglucose uptake and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation were examined. The drugs were administered intraperitoneally in varying dosages based on those used therapeutically, either as a single infusion or daily for 3 days. Miconazole at high dosage (60 mg/kg) suppressed mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation, otherwise a single dose of any of the drugs had no effect on neutrophil or lymphocyte function irrespective of concentration used. Variable stimulative or suppressive effects on neutrophil and lymphocyte function were observed after three daily doses of each drug, but there was no dose-response pattern and the effects were erratic. The data show that, contrary to previous findings in vitro, amphotericin B, fluconazole and miconazole were not consistently immunosuppressive in vivo in this animal model.