[Blood filterability at various filtration pressures: a study conducted on normal and diabetic subjects]

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