Smoking and tuberculosis: the epidemiological association and immunopathogenesis.
There is increasing evidence of a link between tuberculosis and smoking. This paper reviews the epidemiological evidence from the UK, China, India and the USA, summarizing some of the main papers which indicate an association. Where an association has been found there seems to be an increase in tuberculosis case rates of between two- and four-fold for those smoking in excess of 20 cigarettes a day, but it may be difficult to control for other factors, particularly alcohol consumption. The final part of the paper reviews possible mechanisms. A likely possibility is that nicotine turns off the production of TNF-alpha by the macrophages in the lungs, rendering the patient more susceptible to the development of progressive disease from latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
Davies
P D O
PD
Tuberculosis Research and Resources Unit, Cardiothoracic Centre, Thomas Drive, Liverpool L14 3PE, UK.
Yew
W W
WW
Ganguly
D
D
Davidow
A L
AL
Reichman
L B
LB
Dheda
K
K
Rook
G A
GA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D016676:Macrophages, Alveolar / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009538:Nicotine