Lack of effect of aspirin on cigarette smoke-induced increase in circulating endothelial cells

A random-order, double-blind crossover study was done to compare the effects of placebo and two different doses of aspirin on the endothelial cell count of venous blood before and after smoking. Each of 17 male habitual smokers with coronary artery disease smoked two cigarettes during each of three 20-min periods separated by 2 weeks. Each patient was asked to take a tablet containing 150 mg of aspirin, 300 mg of aspirin or a placebo 12 h before each experimental smoking period and to abstain from smoking in the interim. Endothelial cell counts were determined by means of differential centrifugation and phase-contrast microscopy and nicotine by gas chromatography. After ingestion of placebo, the mean endothelial cell counts (+/- SD) were 2.7 +/- 0.8 and 4.5 +/- 0.9 per counting chamber before and after smoking respectively (p less than 0.001). Endothelial cell counts and plasma nicotine concentrations were not significantly correlated. Neither the mean presmoking values nor smoking-induced changes in either variable were affected either dose of aspirin. The data suggest that smoking caused acute endothelial cell desquamation which was not prevented by aspirin.