The effect of smoking on serum nitric oxide (NO) in acutely carbon monoxide poisoned patients

An important role of Nitric Oxide (NO) in relaxing vascular smooth muscle is commonly known. In this pilot study we aimed to asses an impact of cigarette smoking on NO serum concentration in acutely CO poisoned patients. The measured marker of cigarette smoking was urea cotinine. A highest NO concentration and lowest diastolic blood pressure were noted in the subgroup of acutely CO poisoned smokers. Diastolic blood pressure in the subgroup of not CO poisoned non-smokers and was higher compared to acutely CO poisoned (both smokers and nonsmokers) and also to subgroup of those person who were exposed only to CO in cigarette smoke.