| Abstract: | We studied the influence of protein intake on the phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin test and purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test in 45 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. The patients were 23 males and 22 females, the ages ranging from 19 to 80 years, with an average of 53.6 years. All patients were being maintained on long-term hemodialysis (mean 37.3 months). They were divided into three groups according to protein intake: Group A; less than 1.1 g/kg/day, Group B; 1.1-1.5 g/kg/day, Group C; more than 1.5 g/kg/day. There were no significant differences among the three groups with respect to age, causative disease and the period of maintenance hemodialysis. We measured protein intake, PHA skin test and PPD skin test. Significant differences were found between Group B and Group C with respect to the PHA skin test values and PPD skin test values, the values of Group C being very low compared with those of Group B. The PHA skin test values and PPD skin test values were only slightly lower in Group A than in Group B. The negative reaction rate of PPD in Group A and Group C was much higher than in Group B. The results suggest that excess intake of protein impaired cellular immunity in maintenance hemodialysis patients, and that protein deficiency can also have a detrimental effect on cellular immunity. Therefore, adequate protein intake should be maintained for optimizing cellular immunity. |
