Effect of tobacco smoking on selected immunologic indices

Investigations performed in 85 clinically healthy smokers indicated the decrease in the total count of T lymphocytes depending on the smoking time and simultaneous lack of alterations in the B cell count, the count of "non-T, non-B" cells, was increased in smokers. These changes were accompanied by lowered levels of IgA and IgM in the blood serum. The authors discuss the significance of their observations in the light of controversial data from literature.