DEFORMABILITY OF LEUKOCYTE SUBPOPULATIONS IN TYPE-1 (INSULIN-DEPENDENT) AND TYPE-2 (NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT) DIABETIC-PATIENTS

We have measured deformability of leucocyte subpopulations by a filtra tion method in long-standing type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patie nts and in type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetic patients compared w ith control subjects to determine if leucocyte deformability is impair ed in diabetes, particularly in association with microvascular complic ations. Mononuclear leucocytes deformed less readily than polymorphonu clear leucocytes in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. There was no significant difference in either mononuclear or polymorphonuclear deformability between either group of diabetic patients and control su bjects, but there was a significant association of age with both decre asing mononuclear and polymorphonuclear deformability. Diabetes does n ot adversely affect leucocyte deformability and therefore altered leuc ocyte rheology is unlikely to be causally related to microvascular com plications in longstanding diabetes. However increased leucocyte rigid ity associated with advancing age could have detrimental effects on mi crovascular perfusion, which may be a determinant of organ damage in p atients with macro and/or microvascular disease.