Human leucocyte rheology and tissue ischaemia

Reports suggest that white blood cells are involved in the development of tissue ischaemia. No studies on leucocyte rheology in the earliest stages of ischaemia exist. In 10 peripheral vascular disease (PVD) patients, 10 stable angina pectoris (SAP) patients and two groups of 10 matched controls leucocytes were separated by density and adherence into their granulocyte, lymphocyte and monocyte subpopulations. Blood samples were taken from the PVD group and respective controls before and after treadmill exercise (5 min 2 km-1 h-1, 12% slope) and from the SAP patients and controls before and after cycle ergometer test (25 W every 3 min). All the subpopulations were filtered through five micron diameter pore filters. Compared to controls, calf pain in the PVD patients was associated with an increase in monocyte filterability (P less than 0.01). ST depression in the SAP patients was linked to impaired granulocyte filterability (P less than 0.04). Therefore leucocyte rheology appears impaired in the earliest stages of ischaemia.