Estudio de las alteraciones de las fibras elásticas de la piel en pacientes fumadores y su relación con el deterioro de la función pulmonar

Abstract

Background. Cigarette smoking constitutes a risk factor for the development of premature facial wrinkles and airflow obstruction. Similar changes in elastic fibers of skin and lung could play a role in the pathogenesis of both phenomena. Methods. Skin biopsies from the upper inner arm of 78 patients (20 nonsmokers, 35 former smokers and 23 smokers) aged between 41 and 70 years were taken. The mean relative area and number of superficial and deeper dermal elastic fibers were evaluated using morphometry. The specimens were immunostained using antibodies to elastin, P-amyloid component, plasma protease inhibitors and with lectins Concanavalin A and Triticum vulgaris. Spirometry, pulmonary volumes and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide were used to establish the index of airflow obstruction. The results were statistically compared. Results. The mean relative area and number of the dermal elastic fibers were significantly increased in the cigarette smokers compared to non smokers. This increase seems to be due to degeneration of both components of elastic fibers, elastin and microfibrils. Moreover, after controlling for smoking habit, a significant statistical relationship between the level of airflow obstruction and the increase of dermal elastic fibers density in non-exposed skin was found. Conclusions. We have found abnormalities in the elastic tissue of the non-exposed skin of smokers. On the other hand, density of dermal elastic fibers constitutes an independent risk factor for the development of airflow obstruction in both smokers and non smokers.

Date of Award	17 May 2002
Original language	Undefined/Unknown
Supervisor	Carlos Ferrándiz Foraster (Director) & Miguel Ribera Pibernat (Director)