[The effect of cigarette smoking on serum activities of paraoxonase and arylesterase in stroke patients].

UNLABELLED

Cigarette smoking is one of most important modifiable risk factors of stroke. Lipids peroxidation remains crucial among pathomechanisms leading to increased risk of stroke in tobacco smokers.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on the activity of paraoxonase and arylesterase as enzymes involved in protection against oxidation of low-density lipoproteins. We have included in the study 431 subsequent stroke patients hospitalized in Department of Neurology in Poznan in a period from February 2007 to May 2008. The control group consisted of 16 healthy, nonsmoking volunteers. The activity of paraoxonase (PON) and arylesterase (ARE) in patients' sera was estimated by spectrophotometric methods. All patients admitted to emergency room underwent clinical examination. General examination, neurological examination and clinimetric assessment with the use of GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) and NIHSS (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale) scales were performed.

RESULTS

The group of ischemic stroke patients consisted of 26.7% current smokers, 31.3%--ex-smokers, and 42% never-smokers. Among patients with hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic stroke 13.6 % actively smoked cigarettes, 22.7% were ex-smokers, and 63.7%--never-smokers. The statistical analysis of age of patients in all studied groups showed the younger onset of stroke in smokers (p < 0.0001). The activity of arylesterase was significantly disturbed by cigarette smoking in patients with ischemic stroke. In smokers with ischemic stroke ARE activity correlated negatively with number of cigarettes smoked daily (r = -0.2133; p = 0.0322). We have showed positive correlation of duration of smoking with ARE activity (r = 0.2573; p = 0.0239). In non-smoking ischemic stroke patients PON activity increased significantly (p < 0.01) comparing to controls. Tobacco smoking caused impairment of enzymatic antioxidant mechanisms related to paraoxonase activity, because there was no significant (p > 0.05) up-regulation of PON activity in smokers with ischemic stroke. The activity of arylesterase is modified by tobacco smoking in ischemic stroke patients. Smoking causes disturbances in paraoxonase--associated enzymatic antioxidant effects in ischemic stroke patients. Abnormalities of activities of antioxidant enzymes may cause earlier onset of stroke in tobacco smokers.