Previous studies have demonstrated that certain local juvenile periodontitis (LJP) patients possess neutrophils with an intrinsic chemotactic defect to the peptide chemoattractants f-met-leu-phe (FMLP) and C5a. In this investigation, the in vitro response of neutrophils to the chemotactic agent leukotriene B4 (LTB4) was examined. Those LJP patients who possessed defective chemotactic responses to FMLP and endotoxin activated serum (EAS) also had impaired chemotaxis to LTB4. Exogenous LTB4 failed to augment the impaired response to FMLP. Evidence for a global membrane defect in LJP neutrophils resulting in hyporesponsiveness to chemically diverse chemotactic agents is presented.