RESUMEN
Fifteen adult male smokers and fifteen age and sex matched nonsmokers [as controls] were included in this work. An assessment of cutaneous perfusion and skin blood flow in the fingers was done using laser Doppler flowmetry by thermal stimulation. Duplex study of the carotid arteries and assessment of the intima/media thickness were also done. The comparative study showed a significant higher minimum, lower maximum, mean and percentage of change flux in smokers compared with the nonsmokers. This denoted the alteration of the microcirculatory vasomotion in smokers. Smoking exerted a deleterious effect on the cutaneous microcirculation expressed as chronic vasoconstriction and reduced peripheral blood flow compared with nonsmokers, as indicated by the use of the new sensitive laser Doppler flowmetry with the aid of thermal stimulation technique