Platelets of habitual smokers have reduced susceptibility to aggregating agent.
Platelet aggregation to collagen, and productions of 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1-alpha and thromboxane B2 during aggregation were measured after an overnight fast, involving both food and cigarettes, in 19 clinically healthy habitual smokers (10 or more cigarettes/day) and 23 non-smokers receiving the same diet. The subjects (all males; ages = 21-30 years) were residents of a school hostel. Mean platelet aggregation was significantly lower in smokers than non-smokers (23.2 ohms vs 31.5 ohms, p less than 0.005). Non-smokers had significantly higher mean concentration of 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1-alpha than smokers (109.8 pmol/l vs 92.3 pmol/l, p less than 0.05). The level of thromboxane B2 did not differ significantly between the two groups. These observations suggest that the role of smoking as a risk factor for ischaemic heart disease is unlikely to be related to a direct enhancement of aggregation. On the contrary, the observations seem to suggest that habitual smoking may directly reduce platelet aggregability.
Foo
L C
LC
Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Roshidah
I
I
Aimy
M B
MB
D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000097:blood; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood
D008055:Lipids; D014810:Vitamin E; D013929:Thromboxane B2; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D011464:Epoprostenol