EFFECT OF SMOKING CESSATION ON MICROVASCULATURE OF APPARENTLY HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS

Objective. To study the effect of smoking cessation on microvasculature in otherwise healthy young adults. Materials and Methods. Thirty thr ee otherwise healthy young adults (20 males, 13 females) with a mean age of 21.6±0.48 years) and mean time from smoking cessation of 2.52 ± 0.45 years (range from 1 month to 10 years) were enrolled in this study. Two control groups included 15 smokers (5 males and 10 females, with a mean age of 21.47±0.75 years) and 18 non-smokers (6 males and 12 females, with a mean age of 21.00±0.27 years), respectively. Computer biomicroscopy for imaging bulbar conjunctiva was used as a method of assessment. When evaluating the results, special focus was made on changes in the diameter of microvessels in former cigarette smokers as compared to non-smokers and smokers. Results. In former smokers, the diameters of arterioles (13.01 ± 0.41 mcm and 18.33±0.65 mcm, р2<0.001) and capillaries (9.2 ± 0.23 mcm and 9.89 ± 0.19 mcm, р2<0.05) as well as the number of functioning capillaries on 1 mm 2 of bulbar conjunctiva surface were increased (8.01 ± 0.21 on 1 mm 2 and 8.25±0.44 on 1 mm 2 , р1<0.05) as compared to smokers. In former smokers the abovementioned changes occur within the first few months since smoking cessation (p1<0.01). Conclusion: Significant increase in the arteriole and capillary diameter and the number of functioning capillaries per 1 mm 2 of the bulbar conjunctiva sur face show positive impact of smoking cessation at young age on microvasculature.