The effects of anti-lymphocyte globulin on lymphocyte subpopulations in recipients of kidney allografts.

During the first three weeks following transplantation kidney allograft recipients were treated with zero, 15 or 30 mg/day of anti-human-lymphocyte globulin (ALHG, Behringwerke). T-cells were determined as sheep erythrocyte rosette forming cells (E--RFC) and B cells were identified using the surface membrane immunoglobulin (SmIg) marker. The proportion of E--RFC decreased with increasing AHLG dose. The absolute number of E--RFC was lower in patients receiving 30 mg/kg AHLG compared to those not treated with AHLG. In patients receiving 30 mg/kg AHLG the mean number of lymphocytes covered with AHLG was 78 +/- 3%, detected by using a fluorescent anti-horse IG; significantly higher (p less than 0,001) than 31 +/- 3% in patients treated with 15 mg/kg AHLG. T cell function was measured as the mitogenic response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and Concanavalin A (Con A) and the B cell response was measured as the mitogenic response to anti-B2microglobulin (anti-B2m). No differences in response to Con A or anti-B2m were seen in lymphocytes from the various groups of patients. The response to PHA increased (p less than 0,05) in patients treated with the highest dose of AHLG.