Acute metabolic and circulatory effects of cigarette smoking in late pregnancy.

The acute metabolic and circulatory effects of cigarette smoking (two cigarettes of a standard brand) in the last trimester of pregnancy were studied. 12 subjects, all of whom where hospitalized because of pregnancy complications, volunteered to participate in the investigation. A statistically significant immediate increment in the maternal heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fetal heart rate, plasma glucose and plasma cyclic AMP was noted. Plasma glycerol, plasma insulin and blood lactate did not change significantly. 30 min after smoking there was a small but significant increase in plasma nonesterified fatty acids, plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate and plasma C-peptide.