The migration, phagocytosis and reduction ability of granulocytes from the skin of atopic asthmatics (n = 30) and healthy control subjects (n = 20) were evaluated. In all subjects, granulocyte migration was evaluated in vitro using the Clausen test and in vivo using the Matusiewicz and Brzezińska test, and Park's tests of phagocytosis of neutral latex particles and the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) were also performed. It was demonstrated that patients with atopic asthma had a defect in skin granulocyte migration. Our studies also showed that the ability of granulocytes from skin infiltrations to reduce NBT was increased. The ability of granulocytes from skin infiltrations to migrate was inversely proportional to the degree of oxidative burst in patients with atopic asthma.