Table 2.

Changes in the number and the phenotype of T lymphocytes

Lymphocytes	Controls (n = 15)	Predialysis (n = 20)	Dialysis (n = 20)
T cells (%)	29·4 ± 1·7	21·3 ± 1·2*	19·7 ± 1·4*
CD3+/μl	1259 ± 118	1079 ± 95*	917 ± 85**
CD4+/μl	727 ± 87	702 ± 63	521 ± 46**
CD8+/μl	520 ± 53	383 ± 41*	299 ± 29**
CD4:CD8 ratio, mean	1·42 ± 0·09	2·02 ± 0·19*	1·93 ± 0·19*

Peripheral T cells and their subsets were identified by immunofluorescence and FACS analysis. Data represent the mean ±s.e. Statistically significant differences between T cells from dialysis and predialysis patients versus controls:

^*P < 0·01

^**P < 0·001. The value of CD4:CD8 ratio from each patient was used to calculated the mean.