Leukocyte filterability in peripheral vascular disease

The initial flow rate of diluted blood, from patients with intermittent claudication, can be used to calculate the average flow properties of a combined population of lymphocytes and granulocytes. The transit time for the flowing leukocytes, calculated in this way, is close to that determined from the flow rate of suspensions of unfractionated leukocytes. The isolation and purification of leukocytes is therefore not a prerequisite to the investigation of their filterability in this group of patients. The number and transit time for flowing leukocytes is higher in the patient group compared to normals, and the variation in the rate of flow of diluted blood through 5 μm membranes is attributable to differences in both the concentration and the flow properties of the participating leukocytes. Small variations in red cell transit time or platelet count are not reflected in the measured flow rate of diluted blood.