Activation and decreased deformability of neutrophils after intermittent claudication.

This study investigated local alterations in neutrophil activation and deformability after intermittent claudication. In 17 patients with one-sided peripheral arterial occlusive disease, neutrophil count, proportion of activated neutrophils (by nitro blue tetrazolium test), and neutrophil filterability as a measure of passive deformability were assessed in the femoral arterial and venous blood of the diseased leg and in the femoral venous blood of the healthy leg (n = 10). The values were obtained at rest, immediately after claudication, and 10 minutes after claudication induced by repetitive toe stands. Immediately after exercise, the arterial and venous blood differences in the diseased leg were 1) neutrophil count, 9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5-14%; relative increase in the venous blood compared with arterial blood); 2) the proportion of activated neutrophils, 26% (CI, 10-42%); and 3) the neutrophil filterability, -10% (CI, -4% to -15%). At rest and 10 minutes after exercise, neutrophil parameters did not differ significantly between the femoral arterial and venous blood. Furthermore, no arterial and venous blood differences in the neutrophil parameters were found in the healthy leg. In addition to local changes, systemic changes occurred immediately after exercise. In the femoral arterial blood, the total neutrophil count had risen by 13% (CI, 8-18%), the proportion of activated neutrophils had risen by 41% (CI, 25-58%), and average neutrophil rigidity had risen 17% (CI, 11-22%) compared with the values obtained before exercise. At 10 minutes after exercise, all neutrophil parameters were still elevated. We conclude that even short periods of ischemia, as in intermittent claudication, cause local alterations in neutrophil function and distribution.