Cardiovascular research
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Cardiovascular research · Nov 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialShort-term effects of transdermal nicotine on acute tissue plasminogen activator release in vivo in man.
Cigarette smoking impairs peripheral endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and acute tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) release in man. The aim of the study was to determine if this endothelial dysfunction is, in part, mediated by the effects of nicotine. ⋯ Short-term transdermal nicotine treatment does not affect endothelium-dependent vasomotion but does increase substance-P-induced t-PA release in vivo in man. This suggests that nicotine administration alters specific aspects of endothelial function and enhances the acute endogenous fibrinolytic capacity in vivo. The long-term effects of nicotine exposure, including the potential to cause depletion of endothelial t-PA stores, now needs to be assessed.