The immune status of the uremic patient: hemodialysis vs CAPD.

The immune status of the uremic patient is characterised by an affected cellular immunity. The absolute numbers of circulating T-cells are reduced. The relative numbers of OKT8-cells and the suppressor cell activity seem to be increased, the helper cell activity seems to be decreased. Hemodialysis does not restore the impaired immune status. With increasing time of dialysis the alterations become more pronounced. So far a difference in the immune status of CAPD patients compared to HD patients has not been proven. The impairment of immune response might be less than in HD patients. The mechanism of this difference is not established. However, the question of immune response in uremia and its alteration by different forms of dialysis treatment is only in part and insufficiently investigated. Studies in CAPD patients have only a very preliminary character.