THE COMPOSITION OF EDEMA FLUID AND LYMPH IN EDEMA AND ELEPHANTIASIS RESULTING FROM LYMPHATIC OBSTRUCTION

Abstract

In 3 dogs with apparently complete lymphatic obstruction in the hind leg, the edema fluid contained proteins, sometimes as high as 4-5%, and invariably cells, mainly degenerating lymphocytes with poorly defined nucleus and cytoplasm, except during attacks of infection, when polymorpho-nuclear leucocytes predominated. The albumin/globulin ratio tends to be (only slightly) higher in edema fluid than in blood. The protein contents of lymph and edema fluid show a fair degree of similarity.