Evaluation of some immunological and inflammatory indices in cigarette smokers of Basra province

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to find out the effect of cigarettes smoking on several haematological, immunological parameters and inflammatory proteins C-reactive proteins (CRP) and complement (C3 and C4). Methods: Whole blood and serum samples were taken from 32 healthy smokers and 31 non-smokers male as control (19-40 years) in order to detect the total WBCs and differential count, phagocytosis activity and serum inflammatory proteins both of CRPs and complements (C3 and C4). Results: The total number of WBCs and neutrophils were significantly higher in smokers, but their phagocytic activity was significantly decreased. In relation to inflammatory proteins, both of CRPs and complement proteins (C3 & C4) were increased significantly higher in smokers. The number of smokers has a significant increase in urban rather than rural area. In addition, no significant differences were observed in the numbers of lymphocytes (p= 0.118) and mass body index (MBI p= 0.367) between smokers and non-smokers. Conclusion: Cigarette smoking has severe adverse effects on different immunologic parameters as it leads to increase in all of the total WBCs count, neutrophils and lymphocytes as well as both of the inflammatory proteins ( CRPs and complement (C3 and C4)). While on the other hand, phagocytic activity was decreased.