Peripheral T and B lymphocytes were measured in (1) hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive, (2) HBsAg-negative uremic patients on chronic hemodialysis (CHD) therapy, and (3) patients with type B chronic active viral hepatitis (CAVH). When compared to normals, a decrease in the absolute number of T and B lymphocytes was detected in both CHD groups. CAVH patients had a decrease in the total number of T lymphocytes. When expressed as percentage of T lymphocytes, normals and HBsAg-negative CHD patients had similar values, while a decrease was detected in both HBsAg-positive CHD and CAVH patients. Also, in the latter two groups, hepatitis B virus infection resulted in an increase in the total number and percentage of null cells.
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