Polymorphonuclear leucocyte function in chronic renal failure and after renal transplantation.

Neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis and bactericidal ability were assessed in patients with chronic renal failure on conservative therapy, in others on regular peritoneal and haemodialysis, and in a group of patients who had received renal allografts. Chemotaxis was abnormal in all groups. The groups on peritoneal and haemodialysis had mildly impaired phagocytosis, while killing ability was normal in all but the group on conservative therapy who showed a mild defect. Serum from groups when activated with endotoxin was poorly chemotactic to normal neutrophils, but functioned normally as opsonins for phagocytosis.