ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of parenteral plus enteral nutrition (PN+EN) and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) support on the postoperative immune function in renal recipients with severe pulmonary infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty renal recipients with severe postoperative pulmonary infection were randomly assigned into two equal groups to receive PN+EN or standard TPN, both supplied with equal nitrogen and calorie. The plasma levels of total protein, albumin, hemoglobin and peripheral blood IgA, IgG, IgM, total lymphocyte count, and CD4/CD8 ratio were measured before and after the treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total lymphocyte count, CD4/CD8 ratio and IgG were significantly increased in patients receiving PN+EN as compared with those in TPN group (P<0.05). In both of the groups, the total protein and albumin levels underwent no significant changes after the nutritional support (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PN+EN can better improve the immune function than TPN in renal recipients with severe pulmonary infection.</p>