Vascular effects of «acute» smoking: the role of videobiomicroscopy of the bulbar conjunctiva in studying microcirculation reactions

Introduction. The authors attract the attention of readers to the reactions of micro- and macrocirculation in response to «acute» smoking. The aim was to study the effects of «acute» smoking on hemodynamic parameters and microcirculation in young, practically healthy individuals and patients with coronary artery disease. Material and methods. By means of computer-assisted videobiomicroscopy we examined smokers practically healthy young people (n=47), and patients with stable ischemic heart disease (n=48). Microvascular reactions were studied in a sample with «acute» smoking: Initially, 1, 15 and 30 min after smoking 1 cigarette, the blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR) were measured in parallel. Results. In response to smoking, 6 types of microvessel reactions were registered in the young. In 40.42 % of the surveyed, arteriole dilated, which persisted for up to 30 min of observation. In patients with coronary artery disease, 4 types of microvessel reactions in response to smoking were recorded, which persisted until 30 min of observation. Arteriole dilation was observed in 18.5 % of patients. Conclusion. Multidirectional reactions of microvessels in response to smoking of one cigarette, in young healthy individuals and in patients with IHD were revealed. The expansion of resistive microvessels in response to smoking requires further indepth research and may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, which may not be evident from more traditional macrocirculation studies.