Mononuclear cell phenotyping in a hemodialysis population.

A study of peripheral blood mononuclear cell phenotyping and HIV testing was performed in 39 chronic hemodialysis patients. The following abnormalities were found in comparison to a control population: 1) a lower percentage of lymphocytes in the white blood cell differential count, 2) a lower percentage of total T cells, 3) a lower percentage and absolute number of suppressor T cells and 4) a lower percentage and absolute number of B cells. Both increasing age and blood transfusions were associated with reduced helper cells.