Does haemodialysis impair macrophage Fc receptor function?

Patients treated with chronic haemodialysis are at risk of infections, possibly because of impaired function of macrophage Fc receptors. Using [123I]-labelled aggregates of human IgG ([123I]-AIgG) as a probe of Fc-receptor-mediated function, we examined eight patients treated with chronic intermittent haemodialysis (HD), eight patients treated with CAPD, eight patients with preterminal renal failure who had not yet received renal replacement therapy, and eight healthy controls. In all three patient groups the first elimination half-life of [123I]-AIgG was decreased, suggesting accelerated binding of the probe. In the HD group overall clearance of [123I]-AIgG was similar to the value found in healthy controls. In the CAPD and preterminal renal failure group clearance was decreased as compared with the HD patients. Uptake of [123I]-AIgG by liver and spleen was quantitatively similar in patients and controls, but hepatic uptake of [123I]-AIgG reached its maximum earlier in the patients treated with HD. These results suggest that Fc receptor function is not impaired in patients who undergo chronic haemodialysis.