EFFECT OF SMOKING ON BLOOD RHEOLOGY

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of cigarette smoking on biologic and theologic tests, chiefly on the red blood cells (RBC) in measuring the deformability by the Cell Transit Analyser (CTA) and their aggregation by using an ultrasonic interferometry method based o n A-mode echography allowed for the measurement of the accumulation ra te of particles in a solid plate which is related to their sedimentati on rate (Echo-Cell). Nine male smoker subjects with a high nicotine ad diction measured by Fagerstrom questionnaire (> 8) and level of carbon monoxyde (CM) in the breathed out air (> 20 ppm), have been compared with ten healthy no-smoker Volunteers (CM < 3 ppm). One smoker has bee n eliminated of statistic evaluations because his glucose level showed a diabetes (10,5 mmol/l). A nailfold capillaroscopy performed in all subjects has eliminated the patterns of latent vasculitis or scleroder ma. RBC and platelets counts, hemoglobin, ionogram, gamma GT, ASAT, AL AT, uric acid, total cholesterol and glucose levels were not significa ntly different between the two groups. On the other hand, in the smoke r group, white blood cells count, serum triglycerids and especially fi brinogen values were higher than in the non-smoker's group. RBC sedime ntation rate was normal in the two groups but was higher in smoker's g roup too. Without consumption of alcohol, the mean RBC volume was more important in smokers (91.9 +/- 1.2 versus 87.5 +/- 0.4, p = 0.003). R heologic tests were more pathologic in smokers. The transit time or RB C by CTA was longer than in control group (1.6 ms +/- 0.02 versus 1.2 +/- 0.05, p = 0.0003). Echo-Cell technic showed a number and size of R BC aggregates more important with a rate of speed of accumulation high er than in the control group. These results demonstrated the toxic eff ects of smoking alone on blood toward a propensity for thrombotic stat us.