title: Influence of acute and chronic smoking on leukocyte aggregation.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether alterations of leukocyte aggregation are present before the development of smoking-associated diseases. Leukocyte aggregation, studied by means of the leukergy test, was significantly higher in 24 healthy smokers as compared to 18 healthy non-smokers (mean + SE) 4.4 +/- 2.2 vs 1.5 +/- 1.3; P < 0.02. Intermediate values were found in ex-smokers. A significant increase was observed in smokers who underwent the acute smoking of three cigarettes in 20 minutes (mean +/- SE) 3.5 +/- 1.9 vs 7.5 +/- 2.6; P < 0.02. These data indicate that changes of leukocyte aggregation induced by smoking are present in healthy subjects before the development of clinically evident diseases associated with smoking.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università di Tor Vergata, Roma.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galante
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pietroiusti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Polucci
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benincasa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magrini
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Domenici
mesh_terms: D002449:Cell Aggregation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*