effects of acute smoking on plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitors in habitual smokers

ABSTRACT

There is increased drequency of arterial thrombosic in cigarette smokers. The relation between making and thrombosis has studied by many authors. The changes in the fibrinolytic system seen in our subjects have been studied by many authors but the results are not always in agreement. We wished to study some the effect of acute smoking on the activity of plasminogen activity [PA] and plasminogen activator inhibitor [PAI]. Ten apparently healthy male smoking volunteers were investigated together with 10 non-smoking controls matched for sex and age. All smoking subjects had smoked 15-20 cigarettes per day for at least the previous four years. They had abstained from smoking in the 10 hours preceding the test. Each subject had smoked 3 cigarettes over 3 minules. Immediately before and after smoking, body was sampled for evaluation of both PA and PAI. The baseline salute obtained before smoking were compared with values obtained after smoking and with values of non smokers. Comparison between smokers before smoking and in smokers showed non significant different in PAA and PAI. Comparison between smokers before and after smoking of 3 cigarettes [i.e. effect] of acute smoking], showed a significant decrease n PA, but a non difference in PAI. Comparison between smokers after smoking with non-smokers showed a decrease in PA, though insignificant, and a non significant difference in PAI. We can conclude that this acute decrease of PA may be a serious cause inducing thrombosis events, and this decrease may cause endothelial damage secondary to smoking