[T- and B-lymphocytes in patients with kidney transplants]

T and B cells were estimated in kidney allograft recipients under immunosuppressive therapy by spontaneous rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes and fluorescent staining with anti-immunoglobulin serum. Pronounced lymphopenia could be shown in all patients when compared with normal as well as uremic controls. Under standard immunosuppression with azathioprine and oral steroids T cells were reduced to 840 +/- 215 and B cells to 286 +/- 69 per mm3 blood. Lymphopenia was further augmented by additional intravenous treatment with prednisolone in high dosage (1g). Under these conditions a prevailing reduction of T cells was found.