Some aspects of cellular immunity in untreated and maintenance hemodialysis patients.

The cellular pattern of skin exudate in untreated uremic patients differed from that in healthy persons. The skin exudate composition in patients on maintenance hemodialysis approached normal values. Such normalization was, however, static: after sensitization with dinitrochlorobenzene--contrary to the control--both treated and untreated patients exhibited no changes in the cellular pattern of exudate. The activity of acid phosphatase in the cells of exudate was highly positive in control, almost normal in dialyzed, but weak in untreated uremic patients. Our investigations confirmed that cellular immunity in untreated and in maintenance hemodialysis patients is suppressed.