Water filtration of the forearm in short- and long-term diabetes mellitus

Blood flow and capillary filtration coefficient (CFC) were measured by strain-gauge plethysmography on the upper and lower third of the forearm in 9 normal subjects and 29 well regulated patients with diabetes mellitus of varying duration (less than 10 years, 10 to 20 years, and more than 20 years). There was no difference in blood flow in the four groups, but CFC was significantly increased in long-term diabetes (duration above 20 years) when measured at the distal part of the forearm near the wrist. Calculations showed that this was probably due to the relatively high contribution of connective tissue in this part of the forearm. Increased water filtration in connective tissue in long-term diabetics is in accordance with earlier findings of a lowered subcutaneous interstitial fluid albumin concentration in long-term diabetics, this being explained by an increase in net water outflux from the microcirculation.