Abstract

Low lymphocyte count in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis was documented. This study aims to correlate the levels of lymphocyte count with serum calcium level, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in ESRD patient receiving hemodialysis in Northeast Nigeria. Seventy eight (78) patients receiving hemodialysis and 75 clinically healthy subjects (control) participated in the present study. Full blood count and serum calcium level were determined by using a Sysmex XP-300 Hematology Analyzer and a Selectra Pro-S Chemistry Analyzer, respectively. The mean levels of lymphocyte count, packed cell volume, hemoglobin and serum calcium level were significantly lower (p<0.001), while neutrophil, and NLR values were significantly higher (p<0.001) in ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis as compared to the healthy control subjects. Lymphocyte count was negatively correlated with NLR value (r=-0.341; 0.05) but positively with serum calcium (r=0.904; p<0.001). In end stage renal disease (ESRD) patient receiving hemodialysis, lymphocyte count was negatively correlated with NLR value and positively with serum calcium level.

Key words: Lymphocyte count, serum calcium level, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), hemodialysis.