Cytological evaluation of the nasal mucosa in neonates exposed to tobacco smoke during fetal life.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to assess the cytological picture of the nasal mucosa of neonates born to mothers who are active smokers, passive smokers and non-smokers.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted in a group of 86 neonates born between 23 and 41 weeks of gestation. The assignation of neonates to one of the three aforementioned groups was based on a questionnaire concerning exposure to tobacco smoke, and on the concentration of cotinine in maternal urine. A cytological examination was performed using exfoliative cytology with a semi-quantitative evaluation of the cells present in the specimens. Hematological summation equipment was used to assess the number of neutrophils, eosinophils, columnar, goblet, basal and squamous cells out of 500 cells counted. The number of specific cells was expressed as a percentage and a cytogram was created.


RESULTS
The most common type of cytogram contained neutrophils, columnar cells, and squamous cells. No significant differences were observed between the subgroups. Similarly, there was no correlation between the median of each type of cell and the cotinine concentration in the mothers' urine.


CONCLUSIONS
Active and passive smoking during pregnancy do not influence the cytological picture of the nasal mucosa of neonates.
Neonatal and Intensive Care Department, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Marzenna
M
Krol
Neonatal and Intensive Care Department, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Anna
A
Tupieka-Kolodziejska
Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Bozena
B
Tarchalska-Krynska
Environmental Research Laboratory, Department of Toxicology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
Ewa
E
Florek
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Jan
J
Wilczynski
Neonatal and Intensive Care Department, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Maria K
MK
Borszewska-Kornacka
Neonatal and Intensive Care Department, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
Renata
R
Bokiniec
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003367:Cotinine / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D009297:Nasal Mucosa; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014026:Nicotiana
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003367:Cotinine