Hypersensitivity to tobacco antigens in smokers and nonsmokers.

The examinations were carried out in 336 tobacco smokers, 91 persons who gave up smoking, 175 persons exposed to tobacco smoke indirectly and 112 persons who had nothing to do with tobacco smoke. Together 714 persons were examined. The examinations, which were carried out on the grounds of the clinic observations and the data obtained from interviews, aimed at the discovering of the causal nexus between the attacks of atopic bronchial asthma as well as the occurrence of acute urticaria and the exposure to tobacco smoke. All the patients underwent the dermic allergometric test with the extract from cigarette tobacco. The results of these examinations have not delivered any evidence concerning the allergenic reaction of the immediate type to tobacco smoke.