A pilot study to examine the effects of smoking cessation on serum markers of inflammation in women at risk for cardiovascular disease.
BACKGROUND
The links among smoking, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are well established. Several studies have demonstrated that quitting smoking reverses the risk of coronary heart disease within 5 to 10 years. However, the immediate effects of quitting smoking on inflammatory biomarkers associated with CVD risk have not been well described.


METHODS
In this pilot study, we examined a panel of circulating inflammatory biomarkers associated with CVD in "at-risk" women during the smoking cessation program. Forty-six women enrolled in a smoking cessation program consented to attend four study visits over 6 to 7 weeks. Health/medical information and blood were collected at each visit. Circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-6, soluble TNF receptor (sTNFR)-I, sTNFR-II, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM)-1 were measured, and changes between baseline levels (visit 1, while smoking) and visits 2 through 4 were determined.


RESULTS
Significant reductions in circulating levels of TNF, sTNFR-I, sTNFR-II, and sVCAM-1 were observed among participants over the course of the smoking cessation program. Serum levels of both IL-6 and CRP declined during the smoking cessation program; the changes were not statistically significant, however.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest there are rapid consequences of smoking cessation on inflammatory biomarkers in women at risk for CVD. Additional, larger studies including diverse smokers desiring to quit are required to confirm changes in "measurable milestones" that could serve as motivating factors to assist smokers to quit.
Reichert
Virginia
V
Center for Tobacco Control, The North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY.
Xue
Xiangying
X
The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, The North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY.
Bartscherer
Diane
D
Center for Tobacco Control, The North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY.
Jacobsen
Daniel
D
Center for Tobacco Control, The North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY.
Fardellone
Christine
C
Center for Tobacco Control, The North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY.
Folan
Patricia
P
Center for Tobacco Control, The North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY.
Kohn
Nina
N
The Biostatistics Unit, The North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY.
Talwar
Arunabh
A
Center for Tobacco Control, The North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY.
Metz
Christine N
CN
The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, The North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY. Electronic address: cmetz@nshs.edu.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D002097:C-Reactive Protein