Whole-blood filtration at different filtration pressures: evaluation in normals and diabetics.

Using the Reid technique we evaluated the blood cellular volume (VBC-ml/min-) obtained by changing filtration negative pressure. From the obtained data it is evident that at the three different pressures (20, 15 and 10 cm of H2O) the VBC does not distinguish normals from diabetics. Only at the negative pressure of 20 cm of water did the VBC distinguish diabetics who were subdivided for type and for vascular complications. We also evaluated the relationship between the values of VBC calculated at the pressure of 20 and 10 cm of water. From this study it emerges that the relationship between the two values present in normals is not different from that present in diabetics and in diabetics subdivided for type and vascular complications. The causes of these findings have been examined in detail.