Influence du tabagisme chronique sur les leucocytes

Abstract

A significant increase in total leukocyte count (2P < 0.001), neutrophil concentration (2P < 0.001) and lymphocyte concentration occurred (2P < 0.01) in 21 chronic smokers compared to 22 non-smokers. However, only the total leukocyte count and the neutrophil count proved to be correlated to carboxyhemoglobin saturation. Slightly different hypotheses are proposed to explain the increase in leukocyte count: the carbon monoxide and/or the carboxyhemoglobin acts directly on peripheral blood leukocytes or indirectly, via the adrenaline [epinephrine] secretion. The average leukocyte count in smokers corresponds to the upper borderline in nonsmokers; therefore, it seems pertinent to take into consideration the number of cigarettes smoked per day when assessing a smoker''s leukocytosis.