Increased polymorphonuclear leucocyte rigidity in HIV infected individuals

AIM Individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection were evaluated for evidence of abnormal polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) rigidity, which can alter capillary blood flow. METHODS The transit time of individual PMN through 8 μm pores in a cell transit analyser was used as a measure of cell rigidity. PMN transit time was compared between HIV infected individuals (n=45) with and without CMV retinitis and HIV negative controls (n=17). RESULTS Transit times were longer for PMN from HIV infected individuals than for PMN from controls (p