HLA Markers and Peritonitis in CAPD Patients

Peripheral T and B cell subpopulations in 41 CAPD patients and 30 healthy controls were identified using monoclonal anti-T cell antibodies and immunofluorescent staining. HLA typing was also studied. OKT8 reactive cells were significantly higher in patients who had had two or more episodes of peritonitis on follow-up, with no changes from normal in those who did not develop peritonitis. The HLA-B8, DR3 haptotype was more frequent in those who did not develop peritonitis, and since HLA-B8, DR3 is known to be associated with reduced suppressor T cells, such a haplotype may confer resistance to peritonitis.