Effects of cigarette smoking on carotid and radial artery distensibility

Cigarette smoking acutely induces a marked increase of blood pressure and heart rate. This is accompanied by a marked reduction of radial artery distensibility. Whether this reflects an alteration of arterial mechanics of large elastic arteries as well is not established, however. In this study we addressed the acute effects of smoking on the stiffness of a peripheral medium-sized muscular artery and a large elastic vessel. We studied seven healthy normotensive smokers (age 28 ± 7 years, mean ± SEM), in the absence of smoking for at least 24 h. Radial artery (NIUS 02) and carotid artery diameter (WTS) were concomitantly acquired beat-to-beat in the 5 min before, during and after smoking of a cigarette containing 1.2 mg of nicotine. Blood pressure and heart rate were concomitantly recorded by a Finapres device. Radial and carotid artery distensibility were calculated according to the Langewouters and Reneman formulae, respectively. Data were collected for consecutive 30 s periods. Statistical comparisons were performed between the three different phases and, within each phase, between 30 s periods. In five subjects the protocol was repeated after 1 week using a stran rather than a cigarette to obtain data under sham smoking.