[Examination of lymphokines in patients with hemodialysis (author's transl)].

The activity of LIF after Con A stimulation was examined in patients with hemodialysis and chronic uremia. It was found that LIF activity is reduced in uremia compared with healthy controls. The absolute number of T lymphocytes was reduced as well as the number of active E rosettes. An inhibitory effect was found in vitro by isolated middle molecules from uremic serum and ultrafiltrate. The LIF production of normal lymphocytes and the number of active rosettes are significantly reduced by substances isolated from serum and ultrafiltrate with molecular weight of 1 000 to 1 500 Dalton. The authors think that these uremic middle molecules are responsible for the already known reducing of immune response by uremia. The uremic substances are dialysable.