Haemoglobin, haematocrit and plasma fibrinogen in cigarette smokers.

Seventy males (40 smokers and 30 non-smokers) between the ages of 35 to 70 years were selected for this study. A detailed medical and smoking history was taken and a thorough medical examination was done. Smokers included had history of smoking 10 or more cigarettes per day for at least 5 years. None of the subjects were found to have diabetes, liver or respiratory disease, congestive cardiac failure, bleeding disorders or any active illness known to effect the haematological parameters. Venous samples were taken from resting subjects in the morning and anticoagulated with E1)TA (1.5 mg/ml) for haemoglobin and haematocrit determinations. Haemoglobin was done by Cyan methaemoglobin method and haematocrit by microhaematocrit method on microhaematocrit machine (Hamule W. Germany). Samples were centrifuged in duplicate for 10 minutes and then averaged. Fibrinogen levels were determined in citrated plasma by quantitative clotting technique using Sigma diagnostic kits. Haemoglobin, haematocrit and fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in smokers than non-smoker (Table I).