Skip to main content
PMC home page
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1985 Jan;40(1):17–22. doi: 10.1136/thx.40.1.17

Smoking, allergy, and the differential white blood cell count.

R G Taylor, E Gross, H Joyce, F Holland, N B Pride
PMCID: PMC459971  PMID: 3969651

Abstract

Dutch workers have proposed that people with asthma and those smokers who develop chronic airflow obstruction share a common allergic constitution. To study whether smoking itself is associated with indicators of allergy, we have examined 237 men aged 51-61 years (120 smokers, 73 ex-smokers, and 44 non-smokers) who were recruited to a long term study of lung function in 1974, at which time men with a clinical diagnosis of asthma were excluded. Smokers, ex-smokers, and non-smokers did not differ in personal or family history of allergic disease, but the prevalence of positive responses to skinprick tests was greater in ex-smokers (59%) than in the other two groups (33% and 34%). In men with negative responses to skinprick tests total serum IgE was greater in smokers (log10 mean 1.41 IU/ml) and in ex-smokers (log10 mean 1.53 IU/ml) than in non-smokers (log10 mean 1.12 IU/ml). In men with positive skin test responses serum IgE was similar in the three groups (log10 mean ranging from 1.68 to 1.78 IU/ml). Geometric mean total white cell counts in the peripheral blood were higher in smokers (7.34 X 10(9)/l) than in non-smokers (5.82 X 10(9)/l); the value in ex-smokers (6.16 X 10(9)/l) was intermediate. Absolute blood eosinophil counts were increased in smokers disproportionately to the increase in total white cell count. Thus smoking is associated with small increases in some markers of allergy. These changes are probably acquired after the onset of smoking but sequential studies are required to amplify these cross sectional observations. Smokers whose skin test responses are positive appear more likely to give up smoking.

Full text

PDF
17

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ablin R. J. Immunologic studies of patients with pulmonary emphysema. Ann Allergy. 1973 Apr;31(4):171–177. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bahna S. L., Heiner D. C., Myhre B. A. Immunoglobulin E pattern in cigarette smokers. Allergy. 1983 Jan;38(1):57–64. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1983.tb00857.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Biegel A. A., Krumholz R. A. An immunoglobulin abnormality in pulmonary emphysema. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1968 Feb;97(2):217–222. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1968.97.2.217. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Billimoria J. D., Pozner H., Metselaar B., Best F. W., James D. C. Effect of cigarette smoking on lipids, lipoproteins, blood coagulation, fibrinolysis and cellular components of human blood. Atherosclerosis. 1975 Jan-Feb;21(1):61–76. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(75)90094-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Bonini S. Smoking, IgE, and occupational allergy. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Feb 13;284(6314):512–513. doi: 10.1136/bmj.284.6314.512-b. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Burrows B., Halonen M., Barbee R. A., Lebowitz M. D. The relationship of serum immunoglobulin E to cigarette smoking. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1981 Nov;124(5):523–525. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1981.124.5.523. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Burrows B., Halonen M., Lebowitz M. D., Knudson R. J., Barbee R. A. The relationship of serum immunoglobulin E, allergy skin tests, and smoking to respiratory disorders. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1982 Sep;70(3):199–204. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(82)90042-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Burrows B., Hasan F. M., Barbee R. A., Halonen M., Lebowitz M. D. Epidemiologic observations on eosinophilia and its relation to respiratory disorders. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1980 Nov;122(5):709–719. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1980.122.5.709. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Burrows B., Lebowitz M. D., Barbee R. A. Respiratory disorders and allergy skin-test reactions. Ann Intern Med. 1976 Feb;84(2):134–139. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-84-2-134. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Corre F., Lellouch J., Schwartz D. Smoking and leucocyte-counts. Results of an epidemiological survey. Lancet. 1971 Sep 18;2(7725):632–634. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Dodsworth H., Dean A., Broom G. Effects of smoking and the pill on the blood count. Br J Haematol. 1981 Nov;49(3):484–488. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1981.tb07253.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. England J. M., Bain B. J. Total and differential leucocyte count. Br J Haematol. 1976 May;33(1):1–7. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1976.tb00966.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. FERRIS B. G., Jr, ANDERSON D. O., ZICKMANTEL R. PREDICTION VALUES FOR SCREENING TESTS OF PULMONARY FUNCTION. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1965 Feb;91:252–261. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1965.91.2.252. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Falk G. A., Siskind G. W., Smith J. P., Jr Immunoglobulin elevations in the serum of patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema. J Immunol. 1970 Dec;105(6):1559–1562. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Ferson M., Edwards A., Lind A., Milton G. W., Hersey P. Low natural killer-cell activity and immunoglobulin levels associated with smoking in human subjects. Int J Cancer. 1979 May 15;23(5):603–609. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910230504. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Friedman G. D., Siegelaub A. B. Changes after quitting cigarette smoking. Circulation. 1980 Apr;61(4):716–723. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.61.4.716. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Friedman G. D., Siegelaub A. B., Seltzer C. C., Feldman R., Collen M. F. Smoking habits and the leukocyte count. Arch Environ Health. 1973 Mar;26(3):137–143. doi: 10.1080/00039896.1973.10666241. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Gerrard J. W., Heiner D. C., Ko C. G., Mink J., Meyers A., Dosman J. A. Immunoglobulin levels in smokers and non-smokers. Ann Allergy. 1980 May;44(5):261–262. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Gulsvik A., Fagerhoi M. K. Smoking and immunoglobulin levels. Lancet. 1979 Feb 24;1(8113):449–449. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)90934-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Howell R. W. Smoking habits and laboratory tests. Lancet. 1970 Jul 18;2(7664):152–152. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)92736-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Kameswaran L., Kanakambal K., Vijayasekaran V. Studies on plasma histaminase levels in normal and allergic individuals. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1968 Oct;12(4):159–165. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Kraal J. H. Immunoglobulin levels in relation to smoking and coffee consumption. Am J Clin Nutr. 1978 Feb;31(2):198–200. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/31.2.198. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Lehrer S. B., Wilson M. R., Karr R. M., Salvaggio J. E. IgE antibody response of smokers, nonsmokers, and "smoke-sensitive" persons to tobacco leaf and smoke antigens. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1980 Jan;121(1):168–170. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1980.121.1.168. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Leitch A. G., Lumb E. M., Kay A. B. Mediators of hypersensitivity in the sputum of young, symptomatic cigarette smokers. Clin Allergy. 1981 May;11(3):257–262. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1981.tb01592.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Miller L. G., Goldstein G., Murphy M., Ginns L. C. Reversible alterations in immunoregulatory T cells in smoking. Analysis by monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. Chest. 1982 Nov;82(5):526–529. doi: 10.1378/chest.82.5.526. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Miller R. D., Gleich G. J., Offord K. P., Dunnette S. L. Immunoglobulin concentrations in serum and nasal secretions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A matched-pair study. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1979 Feb;119(2):229–238. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1979.119.2.229. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Noble R. C., Penny B. B. Comparison of leukocyte count and function in smoking and nonsmoking young men. Infect Immun. 1975 Sep;12(3):550–555. doi: 10.1128/iai.12.3.550-555.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Pantin C. F., Merrett T. G. Smoking and IgE levels. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982 Mar 6;284(6317):744–744. doi: 10.1136/bmj.284.6317.744-a. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Parulkar V. G., Balsubramaniam P., Barua M. J., Bhatt J. V. Smoking and differential leucocyte (w.b.c.) count. J Postgrad Med. 1975 Apr;21(2):75–77. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Pauwels R., van der Straeten M. Total serum IgE levels in normals and patients with chronic non-specific lung diseases. Allergy. 1978 Oct;33(5):254–260. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1978.tb01545.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. SCHOEN I., PIZER M. EOSINOPHILIA APPARENTLY RELATED TO CIGARETTE SMOKING. N Engl J Med. 1964 Jun 18;270:1344–1347. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196406182702505. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Simmons A., Leaverton P., Elbert G. Normal laboratory values for differential white cell counts established by manual and automated cytochemical methods (Hemalog D-TM). J Clin Pathol. 1974 Jan;27(1):55–58. doi: 10.1136/jcp.27.1.55. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Tattersall S. F., Benson M. K., Hunter D., Mansell A., Pride N. B., Fletcher C. M. The use of tests of peripheral lung function for predicting future disability from airflow obstruction in middle-aged smokers. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1978 Dec;118(6):1035–1050. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1978.118.6.1035. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Turnbull L. S., Turnbull L. W., Leitch A. G., Crofton J. W., Kay A. B. Mediators of immediate-type hypersensitivity in sputum from patients with chronic bronchitis and asthma. Lancet. 1977 Sep 10;2(8037):526–529. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(77)90664-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Warren C. P., Holford-Strevens V., Wong C., Manfreda J. The relationship between smoking and total immunoglobulin E levels. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1982 Apr;69(4):370–375. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(82)90148-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Warren C. P., Tse K. S. Symposium on allergic lung diseases. 3. Serum and sputum immunoglobulin E levels in respiratory diseases in adults. Can Med Assoc J. 1974 Feb 16;110(4):425–passim. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Winkel P., Statland B. E. The acute effect of cigarette smoking on the concentrations of blood leukocyte types in healthy young women. Am J Clin Pathol. 1981 Jun;75(6):781–785. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/75.6.781. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Yeung M. C., Buncio A. D. Leukocyte count, smoking, and lung function. Am J Med. 1984 Jan;76(1):31–37. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(84)90741-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Zetterström O., Osterman K., Machado L., Johansson S. G. Another smoking hazard: raised serum IgE concentration and increased risk of occupational allergy. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1981 Nov 7;283(6301):1215–1217. doi: 10.1136/bmj.283.6301.1215. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES