Influence of uremia on polymorphonuclear leukocytes oxidative metabolism in end-stage renal disease and dialyzed patients.

The oxygen (O2) consumption, and superoxide anion (O2-.) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were investigated in 5 end-stage renal disease patients, before and after the 1st, 4th and 10th dialysis sessions. Resting values of O2-. production and O2 consumption were not significantly different from values for PMNs from normal subjects. After stimulation by opsonized zymosan or phorbol myristate acetate, the three parameters measured were significantly (p less than 0.001) enhanced in comparison with healthy control values. Cross-incubation studies showed a lack of effect of patient plasma on O2-. production by stimulated control cells: PMN oxidative metabolism would therefore appear to be increased in these patients. The anomalies observed probably arise via a mechanism involving a cellular dysfunction resulting from the renal disease, rather than from the presence of a plasma factor.