Beneficial effect of cigarette smoking cessation on fibrin clot properties

Abstract

To examine the associations between cigarette smoking and preferable clot properties. Plasma fibrin clots from 21 randomly selected current smokers (n = 7), former smokers (n = 7) and non-smokers (n = 7) were analyzed, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With the use of the turbidimetric clotting and lysis assay in plasma, the maximum absorbance (MaxAbs(C), MaxAbs(L)) was measured and lysis time (Lys(50%)) was calculated. Smoking cessation significantly influenced fibrin fiber branching and density. Median fiber diameter was not changed. Lys(50%) was the highest in current smokers and was reduced in former smokers to the non-smoker level (2120 ± 385 versus 1771 ± 122 and 1724 ± 272 s; P = 0.04). Smoking cessation improves fibrin clot architecture which results in the lesser resistance to lysis.

Aetiology and Clinical Features of Crohn’s Disease

“…These include: direct toxic effects of chemicals in cigarettes, smoking increasing the viscosity of blood and deleterious effects on the mesenteric vasculature [ 13 ]. The epidemiological data reports positive associations, with consistent fi ndings from both case-control and cohort investigations.…”

Fibrinolysis is essential for fracture repair and prevention of heterotopic ossification

“…The most common comorbidities associated with impaired fracture repair are obesity, diabetes, smoking, and advanced age (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23). Furthermore, these comorbidities are all associated with impaired fibrin clearance or fibrinolytic activity (24)(25)(26). Given that impaired fibrinolysis is a feature common to comorbidites associated with impaired fracture repair, we hypothesize that, although extravascular fibrin matrices may exert beneficial effects on fracture repair, persistent fibrin deposition may have deleterious effects on fracture repair.…”

An international study on the feasibility of a standardized combined plasma clot turbidity and lysis assay: communication from the SSC of the ISTH

“…The absence of an internationally accepted (combined) standardized methodology has resulted in numerous different approaches being described in the literature, which varied considerably in terms of activator, the concentration of reagents, dilution of plasma and recorded measurements. Not surprisingly, when we performed a review of these published assays , we found large interlaboratory variation for the respective healthy control groups, including: lag times that ranged from 27 to 399 s; rates of lateral aggregation (slope) that ranged from 0.02 to 0.43 change in absorbance units per unit of time (min); and maximum absorbance that ranged from 0.32 to 1.22 absorbance units. This exceptionally large variation precludes interlaboratory comparison and prevents the establishment of normal and disease ranges, which are available for other CVD risk factors.…”