Phagocytic functions of the blood in patients with acute tick-borne encephalitis.

We studied metabolic and functional activity of peripheral blood phagocytes from patients with febrile tick-borne encephalitis. Phagocytic activity of neutrophils determining nonspecific resistance of the organism progressively increased, while metabolic activity decreased. Secretion of nitric oxide by peripheral blood mononuclear phagocytes was suppressed, while phagocytic functions of these cells remained unchanged.