title: Effect of smoking on endothelium-independent vasodilatation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking induces an impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. In this study we assessed whether smoking also causes an impairment of endothelium-independent vasodilatation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 2 groups of young healthy subjects: 1) 12 medical students (24.5 ± 0.9 years; 6 male) without cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), except smoking (≥10 cigarettes/day); 2) 12 matched controls (24.5 ± 1.1 years; 6 male) without any CVRF. Nitrate-mediated dilatation (NMD) of the brachial artery was assessed in response to the random administration of 4 different doses (10, 20, 30 and 40 μg) of sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG). Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The increasing doses of NTG determined a progressive increase of NMD in both groups, but the dose-response curve was significantly lower in smokers compared to controls (p < 0.001). FMD was also lower in smokers, compared to controls (6.12 + 0.6 vs. 8.06 + 0.9%, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that smoking induces an early impairment of endothelium-independent arterial dilatation.
authors: Institute of Cardiology - Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy. Electronic address: g.a.lanza@rm.unicatt.it.
authors: Gaetano A
authors: GA
authors: Lanza
authors: Institute of Cardiology - Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors: Francesco R
authors: FR
authors: Spera
authors: Institute of Cardiology - Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Villano
authors: Institute of Cardiology - Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors: Giulio
authors: G
authors: Russo
authors: Institute of Cardiology - Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors: Antonino
authors: A
authors: Di Franco
authors: Institute of Cardiology - Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors: Priscilla
authors: P
authors: Lamendola
authors: Institute of Cardiology - Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
authors: Filippo
authors: F
authors: Crea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin
keywords: Endothelial function; Nitrate-mediated dilatation; Smoking