PASSIVE SMOKING, PLATELET-FUNCTION AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Active smoking is a well known risk factor for the development of athe rosclerosis and in particular coronary heart disease and peripheral va scular disease. The negative effects of active smoking demonstrated on platelet function, the eicosanoid system and platelet thromboxane Ar generation may contribute to the hemostatic imbalance reported. Recent ly, the problem of passive smoking as a health risk has been widely di scussed. Detailed information on the role of passive smoking on hemost atic parameters, however, is still very limited. As far as present kno wledge is concerned, platelet activation seems to be significantly inv olved in the deleterious vascular effects of passive smoking as well.