Elevation of blood viscosity, aggregation of red cells, haematocrit values and fibrinogen levels with cigarette smokers.
A study of blood viscosity factors was carried out on male smokers and non-smokers (125 volunteers) in the age group 45 to 55 years. The smoker's group exhibited elevated haematocrit values, fibrinogen levels and blood viscosity (P less than 0-025), and increased aggregation of red cells and plasma viscosity (P less than 0-005). Especially in the dependence of aggregation of red cells on the level of fibrinogen, the smokers of blood group O showed higher values than smokers of blood group A (P less than 0-01). Elevation of blood viscosity factors and functions in smokers suggests that pathways to ischaemia and thrombosis, to which smokers are more prone than non-smokers, may move through the blood high-viscosity syndromes.
D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D004912:Erythrocytes; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*
D012709:Serum Albumin; D005340:Fibrinogen