[Influence of smoking cessation on the microcirculatory bed in apparently healthy young people].

Aim: To study the influence of smoking cessation on the microcirculatory bed (MCB) in 33 healthy young people.

Subjects and Methods: The investigation enrolled 33 healthy young people (male/female (M/F) ratio, 20:13; mean age, 21.6±0.5 years) who had quit smoking 1 month to 10 years (mean age 2.5±0.5 years) before. Comparable groups consisted of 15 smokers (M/F ratio, 5:10; mean age, 21.5±0.8 years) and 18 nonsmokers (M/F ratio, 6:12; mean age, 21±0.3 years). Computer-assisted video-biomicroscopy of the bulbar conjunctiva was carried out. When assessing the

Results: attention was focused on microvessel diameter changes in the patients who had quit smoking compared to the smokers and nonsmokers.

Results: As compared to the smokers, those who had quit smoking showed a significant increase in the mean diameters of arterioles (13.01±0.41 and 18.33±0.65 µm; р<0.001) and capillaries (9.2±0.23 and 9.89±0.19 µm; р<0.05). The number of functioning capillaries per mm2 of the conjunctival surface did not differ from that in the nonsmokers (8.01±0.21 and 8.25±0.44; р>0.05). Thus, the rarefication phenomenon reflecting the influence of smoking on the MCB vessels at a young age undergoes rapidly regression. There are increases in the diameter of arterioles and the number of functioning capillaries just in the first months of smoking cessation (р<0.01).

Conclusion: The considerably increased diameters of arterioles and capillaries and the larger number of functioning capillaries per mm2 of the conjunctival surface suggest that smoking cessation at a young age have a positive impact on MCB vessels.