Leucocyte rheology in the early stages of ischaemic stroke.

Within 5 hours of the onset of ischaemic stroke the filterability patterns and the counts of the granulocyte, monocyte and lymphocyte subfractions were monitored. The results were compared to those of a healthy matched control group and to those of a matched group with cardiovascular risk factors. The granulocyte filterability rate was significantly impaired in the group at risk and even more so in the stroke group suggesting alterations in it may be a sign of latent ischaemia.