Peripheral lymphocyte subsets in human chronic pyelonephritis.

Comparative study of peripheral blood lymphocyte surface markers in chronic pyelonephritis (CP) and chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) patients, and in normal controls showed no differences between controls and GN patients. In CP patients, a significant absolute increase in B cells, and an absolute decrease in T cells were observed as well as significantly lower and higher percentages of OKT4 and OKT8 cells, respectively, leading to a decrease in the OKT4/OKT8 ratio. Furthermore, the percentage of large granular cells was significantly higher in CP patients, while no differences in TIa cells emerged. The overall picture shown by the CP patients is compatible to a cell-mediated immune (CMI) response defect.