Long-term smoking increases transcapillary escape rate of albumin

Transcapillary escape rate of albumin was measured in 11 young and 10 healthy, elderly male subjects. Approximately half of the subjects were chronic cigarette smokers. Transcapillary escape rate of albumin expressed as percentage of decrease in specific activity of plasma albumin per hour averaged 12.3% in long-term smokers. This value was significantly elevated and twice as high as values measured in young smokers and in young and elderly non-smokers. It is concluded that capillary permeability to albumin is increased in long-term smokers. Further studies are warranted to examine the pathophysiological mechanism and to what extent this abnormality is reversible.