STUDIES ON HUMAN PERIPHERAL LYMPH

Abstract

A method is described for sampling of peripheral lymph in man. A peripheral lymphatic of the leg has been cannulated in 59 patients with various malignancies, most of whom had lymphoproliferative diseases. The cannulation was successful in 40, most of the failures were from the early period. The cannulation could be maintained for many days. The mean lymph flow was 0. 78 ml/hour, the cell content 162/mm³ with a mean output of 129 x 103 cells/hour. Differential counts revealed 70-96 per cent lymphocytes. The method is considered harmless and generally useful for lymphocyte circulation studies.