RESUMO
Fifteen patients with chronic renal failure [CRF] on maintenance hemodialysis [HD] and 15 healthy subjects as controls, were studied for the respiratory burst activity of both polymorphonuclear cells [PMNC] and monocytes by measuring the chemiluminescence [CL] after stimulation by zymosan and the superoxide anion after stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate [PMA], respectively. Also, monocyte capacity to synthesize and release of interleukin-1 after stimulation by lipopolysaccharides [LPS] was investigated. CL activity by PMNC was significantly higher, while the superoxide anion generation by monocytes was significantly lower in patients on HD than the controls. IL-1 release by monocytes was significantly lower in patients when compared to the controls. So, this study showed that monocytes of patients with CRF on HD have depressed functions as regards the phagocytic activity and the capacity to synthesize and release the monokine IL-1. Also, the PMNC showed an increase in the generation of reactive oxygen metabolites. These could contribute to the enhanced susceptibility to infection and to some of the acute and long term complications observed in these patients