Inhibition of lymphocyte blastogenesis by plasma of patients with minimal-change nephrotic syndrome.

Plasma from 7 patients with minimal-change nephrotic syndrome (M.C.N.S.) (lipoid nephrosis) confirmed by renal biopsy inhibited the blastogenic response of lymphocytes to the mitogen phytohaemagglutinin (P.H.A.) and to allogeneic lymphocytes in mixed lymphocyte culture. Plasma from 14 patients with nephrotic syndrome due to other glomerular diseases did not have this effect. 5 of the 7 patients with M.C.N.S. achieved remission; 4 with prednisone and 1 spontaneously. While in remission, plasma from these 5 patients no longer inhibited the response of lymphocytes to P.H.A. These findings suggest a pathogenic relation between M.C.N.S. and cell-mediated immunity.