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Acute effects of passive smoking on peripheral vascular function
Jean-François Argacha1, Dionysios Adamopoulos, Marko Gujic
1Department of Cardiology, Erasme Hospital, 808 Lennik St, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. jfxa@skynet.be
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|April 9, 2008
Summary
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) increases aortic wave reflection via nicotine and impairs microvascular function. These harmful vascular effects persist after exposure ends, even with non-tobacco smoke.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Environmental health
- Vascular medicine
Background:
- Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is known to affect vascular tone.
- The specific impact of ETS on aortic wave reflection, microvascular function, and asymmetrical dimethyl-arginine (ADMA) levels remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of ETS on aortic wave reflection and microvascular function.
- To determine the role of nicotine in ETS-induced vascular changes.
- To assess changes in ADMA levels following ETS exposure.
Main Methods:
- A randomized crossover study involving healthy non-smoking males.
- Exposure to ETS, non-tobacco smoke, and normal air for 1 hour.
- Measurement of augmentation index, skin microvascular hyperemia, and plasma ADMA levels.
- Sublingual nicotine administration in a separate experiment.
Main Results:
- ETS exposure significantly increased augmentation index during and after exposure, linked to nicotine levels.
- Nicotine administration impaired wave reflection compared to placebo.
- Both ETS and non-tobacco smoke increased plasma ADMA levels.
- ETS exposure, but not non-tobacco smoke, reduced skin microvascular hyperemia.
Conclusions:
- Passive smoking, specifically via nicotine, acutely increases aortic wave reflection.
- Microvascular function is impaired by ETS, with effects persisting post-exposure.
- Both tobacco and non-tobacco passive smoke inhalation elevate ADMA levels.
