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Leucocytes have been implicated in the development of tissue ischaemia. No studies on leucocyte rheology and activation in the earliest stages of controlled ischaemia in Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) exist. Blood samples were taken from 15 PVD patients and 15 matched controls before and after treadmill exercise (5 mins/2 km/hr/12% slope). Leucocytes were separated by density and adherence into their granulocyte, lymphocyte and monocyte sub-populations and their filterability rates through 5 micron diameter pore filters were measured. Leucocyte activation as observed under a light microscopy was monitored. Compared to controls, calf pain in the PVD patients was associated with a significant (p less than 0.001) increase (+22%) in monocyte filterability but not in leucocyte activation.