Table 4.
Regression analysis of RHA and THA combined between ion level and change in lymphocytes, with regression coefficients measured as ×109 cells/L/ppb. Dependent variable: change in T–cell levels from baseline to the time given; independent variable: metal ion concentration at the time given. ANCOVA adjusted for baseline values of T–cells and for gender
| 8 weeks |
6 months |
1 year |
2 years |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| coeff. | 95% CI | coeff. | 95% CI | coeff. | 95% CI | coeff. | 95% CI | |||
| Total | Co | –0.00 | (–0.24 to 0.23) | –0.32 a | (–0.61 to –0.03) | –0.02 | (–0.16 to 0.12) | –0.07 a | (–0.14 to –0.01) | |
| lymphocytes | Cr | –0.05 | (–0.32 to 0.22) | –0.28 | (–0.60 to 0.04) | –0.04 | (–0.10 to 0.01) | –0.06 | (–0.12 to 0.00) | |
| CD3+ | Co | –0.08 | (–0.34 to 0.18) | –0.30 a | (–0.57 to –0.03) | –0.05 | (–0.16 to 0.07) | –0.10 b | (–0.16 to –0.04) | |
| Cr | –0.12 | (–0.46 to 0.23) | –0.23 | (–0.55 to 0.09) | –0.06 | (–0.13 to 0.00) | –0.07 | (–0.15 to 0.01) | ||
| CD3+CD4+ | Co | 0.02 | (–0.13 to 0.17) | –0.19 a | (–0.37 to –0.01) | –0.02 | (–0.10 to 0.07) | –0.06 c | (–0.09 to –0.03) | |
| Cr | 0.00 | (–0.18 to 0.18) | –0.17 | (–0.38 to 0.05) | –0.03 a | (–0.05 to –0.00) | –0.05 a | (–0.08 to –0.01) | ||
| CD3+CD8+ | Co | –0.02 | (–0.07 to 0.03) | –0.09 a | (–0.16 to –0.03) | –0.01 | (–0.05 to 0.02) | –0.02 a | (–0.03 to –0.00) | |
| Cr | –0.03 | (–0.09 to 0.03) | –0.10 b | (–0.16 to –0.04) | –0.00 | (–0.02 to 0.02) | –0.01 | (–0.03 to 0.01) | ||
| CD3–CD19+ | Co | 0.01 | (–0.03 to 0.04) | –0.04 | (–0.09 to 0.01) | –0.00 | (–0.02 to 0.02) | –0.01 | (–0.03 to 0.01) | |
| Cr | 0.00 | (–0.04 to 0.05) | –0.04 | (–0.09 to 0.01) | –0.00 | (–0.01 to 0.00) | –0.01 | (–0.03 to 0.00) | ||
| CD16+CD56+ | Co | 0.00 | (–0.04 to 0.04) | –0.02 | (–0.05 to 0.02) | 0.02 | (–0.00 to 0.04) | 0.01 | (–0.01 to 0.03) | |
| Cr | –0.00 | (–0.04 to 0.03) | –0.02 | (–0.05 to 0.01) | 0.01 a | (0.00 to 0.02) | 0.00 | (–0.01 to 0.02) | ||
a p < 0.05,
b p < 0.01,
c p < 0.001.
T–cells: CD3+, CD3+CD4+, and CD3+CD8+. Defend the host cells from infection by recognizing foreign antigens.
B–cells: CD19+. Present antigens and make antibodies against antigens.
NK–cells: CD16+CD56+. Defend host cells from infection by recognizing non–self organisms in an unspecific way.