title: The effect of cigar smoking on the lingual microcirculation.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the lingual microcirculation in vivo and to evaluate the effects on it of cigar smoking, using computerized videocapillaroscopy. Twenty-five healthy nonsmokers and 25 healthy smokers were examined. For each subject we evaluated the visibility, course, tortuosity, and any images characteristic of capillary loops, as well as the possible presence of microhemorrhages, the average caliber of the capillary loops, and the number of capillary loops visible per square millimeter. The investigation of the lingual mucosa revealed capillary loops with a course parallel to the surface. In smokers, capillary loops had a smaller caliber (P < 0.001) and there was a higher number of detectable capillary loops (P < 0.001). An important correlation between capillary tortuosity and cigar smoking (P < 0.001) was observed. Our research shows that chronic smoking induces significant changes in lingual capillary morphology, caliber, and number.
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontostomatological Science G. Messina, University of Palermo, via Del Vespro 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy. alescard@msn.com
authors.forename: Giuseppe A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Scardina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000503:physiopathology; D020678:Microscopic Angioscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000098:blood supply*; D014741:Video Recording