[Mechanical jaundice in cholangitis].

The peripheral lymph of the leg and venous blood from donor volunteers were compared. The lymph was found to issue at a higher rate in the active period of the day (from 9 a. m. to 9 p. m.) than at night (from 9 p. m. to 9 a. m.) and is equal to 0.45 and 0.22 X 10(-3) litre/hour, respectively. Its cell composition was lower than that of the peripheral blood (lymph, 2.04 X 10(7) cell/litre; blood, 509 X 10(7) cell/litre) with erythrocytes and platelets not taken into account. Lymphocytes (over 90 per cent) and monocytes (9 per cent) prevailed; the cell number varied with the time of the day; at daytime it was 5-6 times greater than at night. The immunological parameters of the lymph were characterized by a lower content of B cells, greater proportion of 0 cells, and a close T-cell proportion, the active lymphocytes being prevalent. This T-cell proportion correlated with higher spontaneous and lower PHA-induced proliferative activities. The lymph immunoglobulin level was 10-27 per cent of the serum immunoglobulin level; a relationship was observed between the plasma and lymph levels in different age groups.