title: Effects of cigarette smoking on hematological parameters and von Willebrand factor functional activity levels in asymptomatic male and female Arab smokers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at determining the effects of cigarette smoking based on gender, on several hematological parameters and von Willebrand factor protein in the asymptomatic Arab population of Kuwait.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two subjects participated in this study: 55 males (31 smokers and 24 nonsmokers) and 37 females (18 smokers and 19 nonsmokers). Complete blood count results were obtained using Beckman Coulter Hematology Analyzer. Von Willebrand factor functional activity was determined using an enzyme-linked immunoassay-based test in which anti-von Willebrand factor IgG monoclonal antibody was used that recognizes a functional epitope of the protein. The coagulation profile was obtained using ACL 9000 coagulation analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male smokers had significantly higher levels of white blood cell count (p = 0.03) and von Willebrand factor protein levels (p = 0.029), and a significantly shorter thrombin time (p = 0.019) than nonsmokers. Smoking did not appear to affect any of the parameters analyzed in females as no significant difference was found between smokers and nonsmokers (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that smoking affected white blood cell count and von Willebrand factor levels in males and not in females, and as such could be potential markers for smoking-induced endothelial damage in asymptomatic Arab male smokers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Kuwait University, Kuwait. alawadhi@hsc.edu.kw
authors.forename: Anwar M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Awadhi
authors.forename: Suad M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: AlFadhli
authors.forename: Nada Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Prem N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018912:Arabs; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014841:von Willebrand Factor