[Support to the immune system by Venoglobulin I in hemodialized patients]

With the advance of hemodialysis, it has become apparent that immunity, especially cellular, is lowered in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. We administered Venoglobulin I (VGI) to the patients on maintenance hemodialysis to study the change in the immune system and the episodes of infection. VGI was administered to twelve cases, eight males and four females, and their mean period of hemodialysis was three years. Administration of VGI started in February 1981 an mean duration of administration was 7.8 months. As a rule, 2.5g of VGI was administered every 20 days. Counts of white blood cells, lymphocytes, T cells and B cells were measured every two months. The cases were divided into two groups according to the duration of hemodialysis: Group A, less than a year and Group B, more than a year and a month. Results and conclusions 1) VGI increases the lymphocytes and T cell counts in Group B to suggest the improvement of cellular immunity. 2) In Group A, lymphocytes and T cell counts were decreased because the effects of VGI were overcome by the effect of hemodialysis to distort the immune system. 3) The magnitude of effects of VGI was proportional to the period of administration. The effect appeared at least within eight months, and once it appeared, it kept stable level. 4) There had been no episodes of infection during the period of study. 5) With these results, it was indicated that administration of VGI to the patients on maintenance hemodialysis was useful because VGI could support their lowered cellular immunity to some extent.