Comparison of leukocyte count and function in smoking and nonsmoking young men

Abstract

Leukocyte function and other hematological measurements were tested in 14 smoking and 13 nonsmoking young men free of intercurrent or chronic disease. Leukocyte chemotaxis was depressed in smoking subjects when compared to the same subjects abstaining from cigarettes or to the nonsmokers. Smoking did not affect the whole blood bactericidal capacity of leukocytes and serum for Staphylococcus aureus or Klebsiella pneumoniae. Total leukocyte counts, hematocrits, and monocyte counts were higher in the smoking subjects when compared to the nonsmokers.