End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is followed by alterations in adaptive immunity. The aim of this study was to evaluate B lymphocyte subtypes in ESRD patients before and after hemodialysis (HD) or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Patients and Methods. CD5, CD27, BAFF, IgM and annexin were evaluated by flow cytometry on CD19+ cells in ESRD patients (n = 40), at time of initiating HD or CAPD (T0) and 6 months later (T6). Results. A significant reduction in ESRD-T0 compared to controls was noticed for CD19+, 70.8 (46.5) vs. 171 (249), p p p p = 0.002, CD19+BAFF+, 59.7 (37.8) vs. 127.9 (123.7), p p p = 0.03). CD19+CD5+ cells were the only cell type with an increased proportion in ESRD-T0 patients (2.7 (3.7) vs. 0.6 (1.1), p p = 0.02. Conclusions. B cells and most of their subtypes were significantly reduced in ESRD-T0 patients compared to controls, the only exception being CD19+CD5+ cells. Apoptotic changes were prominent in ESRD-T0 patients and were exacerbated by HD.
