1991 Volume 37 Issue 1 Pages 86-94
We studied natural antibody titers against 22 different viruses and mycoplasma in 260 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis who were undergoing hemodialysis. Among the 23 antibody titers, 12 were significantly lower, 3 were higher, 8 were the same as those obtained in 43 normal subjects. Each subject was plotted in 23-dimensional space according to their standardized antibody titers. Multivariate cluster analysis by the Ward's method revealed 3 large clusters differing in responsiveness to those viruses, and in one of the culsters, 74 % of the normal control were included. However, this particular group also included 14 % of the patients and their levels of BUN and creatinine and duration of hemodialysis treatment did not differ significantly from those of patients in the other two clusters. We assume that these differences in immune responsiveness are due to genetic factors. Altered immune responsivenss in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis treated with hemodialysis is not just a reflection of the uremic state or hemodialysis but most likely is a result of immunogenetic regulation.
