Lymphocytes subsets in the course of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).
BACKGROUND
We studied lymphocyte subset counts in comparison with normal subjects in order to clarify the abnormalities of cellular immune responses in uremic patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).


METHODS
The study included 37 CAPD patients and 45 normal individuals, as the control group. For the study, CAPD patients were divided into four groups depending on duration of replacement therapy. Group I consisted of patients treated for 0-6 months (n=6), group II for 6-12 months (n=6), group III for 13-24 months (n=16), and group IV for more than 25 months (n=9). Flow cytometry was used for estimation of lymphocyte subsets (determination of CD2, CD3, CD3+/CD4+, CD3+/CD8+, CD3-/16+56+, CD19, CD4/CD8).


RESULTS
Our patients started CAPD with decreased lymphocyte subset counts, slightly above the normal range (excluding CD3 -/16+56+, CD2). After 6 months of CAPD therapy, an increase in CD4/CD8 ratio was observed and all examined lymphocyte subset counts decreased (excluding CD2). In patients on CAPD for more than 25 months, CD3+/CD4+, CD19 counts were below the normal range, CD3 -/16+56+ exceeded the upper limit of normal range and at the same time mean total lymphocyte count (TLC) was maintained in the normal range.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend lymphocyte subset determinations for detection of immune abnormalities in the course of CAPD treatment.
Griveas
Ioannis
I
Nephrology Department, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. giannisgriv@hotmail.com
Visvardis
G
G
Fleva
A
A
Papadopoulou
D
D
Mitsopoulos
E
E
Nikopoulos
K
K
Manou
E
E
Kyriklidou
P
P
Ginikopoulou
E
E
Meimaridou
D
D
Pavlitou
A
A
Sakellariou
G
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000502:physiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors
D015415:Biomarkers