Prothrombin Time and Partial Thromboplastin Time Test Values of Cigarette Smokers in Calabar, Cross-River State, Nigeria

Abstract

Smoking injures blood vessel walls by damaging endothelial cells, thus increasing permeability to lipids and other blood components. It is a major health problem that results in significant morbidity and mortality. Scanty information on haemostatic studies on smokers was observed in Nigerian population especially in this locality, hence the reason for the study. The objective of this study is to assess the prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time test values of cigarette smokers and to determine the effects of cigarette smoking on these parameters. Prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time with kaolin (PTTk) was investigated in 240 volunteers in Calabar, Cross-River state of Nigeria comprising 120 cigarette smokers and 120 age and sex matched non-cigarette smokers. Citrated blood samples were collected and their plasma analyzed using Standard methods within an hour of sample collection. The results show that mean prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time values of smokers were significantly lower (p<0.001), when compared with the non-smokers. Duration of smoking significantly lowered the mean values of partial thromboplastin time test and prothrombin time test of smokers (p<0.001 and p<0.05 respectively).  PT and PTT (K) of smokers did not vary significantly (p>0.05) based on sex and age. It was concluded that cigarette intake as well as duration of intake, reduces PT and PTT (K) values, thus may predispose cigarette smokers to rheologic abnormalities.

Keywords: Cigarette-smoking, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, blood, plasma