Effect of intravenous alfacalcidol on lymphocyte phenotyping in hemodialysis patients

Chronic renal failure is associated with decreased production of active vitamin D and also results in altered lymphocyte population. We studied the effect of alfacalcidol on lymphocyte phenotype, There were 15 patients (10 males, 5 females) with a mean age of 54.3 +/- 14.4 years who had been on chronic maintenance haemodialysis for a mean period of 3.2 +/- 1.5 years. Intravenous alfacalcidol was given three times weekly during dialysis for a duration of 6 months. Our results show a significant increase in NK cells from 0.20 +/- 0.12 to 0.27 +/- 0.28 (P = 0.001), without a significant change in CD2, CD19, CD4, CD8 population, and CD4/CD8 ratio. (C) 1998 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.