title: Hidden truth of circulating neutrophils (polymorphonuclear neutrophil) function in periodontally healthy smoker subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tobacco smoking is considered to be a major risk factor associated with periodontal disease. Smoking exerts a major effect on the protective elements of the immune response, resulting in an increase in the extent and severity of periodontal destruction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess viability and phagocytic function of neutrophils in circulating blood of the smokers and nonsmokers who are periodontally healthy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred subjects in the mean range of 20-30 years of age were included in the study population. It was a retrospective study carried out for 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred subjects were divided into four groups: 50 nonsmokers, 50 light smokers (<5 cigarettes/day), 50 moderate smokers (5-15 cigarettes/day), and 50 heavy smokers (>15 cigarettes/day). Full mouth plaque index, sulcus bleeding index, and probing depths were measured. Percentage viability of circulating neutrophils and average number of phagocytosed Candida albicans were recorded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Means and standard deviations were calculated from data obtained within the groups. Comparison between the smokers and nonsmokers was performed by Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA analysis. Comparison between smoker groups was performed using Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Percentage viability of neutrophils was significantly less in heavy smokers (66.9 ± 4.0), moderate (76.6 ± 4.2), light smokers (83.1 ± 2.5) as compared to nonsmokers (92.3 ± 2.6) (P < 0.01). The ability of neutrophils to phagocytose, i.e., mean particle number was significantly less in light smokers (3.5 ± 0.5), moderate smokers (2.3 ± 0.5), and heavy smokers (1.4 ± 0.5) compared to nonsmokers (4.9 ± 0.7) (P < 0.01) with evidence of dose-response effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Smoking significantly affects neutrophils viability and phagocytic function in periodontally healthy population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Jodhpur Dental College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Chitra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Tarun Kumar
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Dhoom Singh
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mehta
keywords: Nicotine; phagocytosis; polymorphonuclear cells; smoking