[The incidence of platelet hyperaggregability induced by cigarette smoke in a healthy population]

The effect of cigarette smoking on platelet function was investigated by means of whole blood aggregometry, a method suitable to reproduce in vitro the in vivo conditions. Platelet aggregation was evaluated before and after smoking two cigarettes. The coagulation tests performed in 26 volunteers, aged between 24-35 years, did not show any remarkable change. On the other hand, platelet aggregation was significantly increased in the majority of the volunteers (17 out of 26). No correlation was found between platelet aggregation and the coagulation parameters here considered.