Lymphocyte populations in maintenance hemodialysis patients - reassessment and analysis of B cell subtypes.

Maintenance hemodialysis patients are known to be lymphopenic, and it was previously felt that T and B cells were equally and moderately depressed. With modification of the B cell technique, however, we have shown that MHD patients have a relatively more pronounced depression of B cells, with decreased proportions and markedly reduced total numbers. B cells bearing specific immunoglobulin types are all proportionally reduced. This marked B cell deficiency could be responsible for the increased rate of some infections in MHD subjects. Its relationship to azotemia, malnutrition, toxic or deficiency states, or dialysis itself is unknown, and the stages of cellular maturation or interaction which are affected have not been identified.