Cold-Induced Vasodilation In Abstinent Smokers With And Without A 12-Hour Nicotine Patch

This study was designed to identify the effects of a 12-h nicotine patch administration on cold induced vasodilation (CIVD) in healthy young chronic smokers following 16 h of abstinence from smoking. Two laser Doppler probes and temperature thermocouples were placed on the dorsal part of the distal phalanx of the middle and ring fingers of 7 smokers (>12 cigarettes/day). Following 16 h of abstinence from smoking, smokers were tested with and without administration of a 21 mg transdermal nicotine patch (NicoDerm(R)). Each participant's right hand was immersed in cold (similar to 5 degrees C) water for 40 min. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated from non-invasive arterial finger blood pressure and skin blood flow and expressed as a percentage of peak CVC observed during hand skin heating to 44 degrees C. For comparison purposes, the CIVD response of a non-smoking cohort without nicotine patch (n = 10) was also examined. Baseline CVC was similar in smokers and non-smokers (27.8 +/- 12.6 CVC % peak). The initial vasoconstriction during cold-water immersion decreased skin blood flow to 4.0 +/- 3.9 CVC % peak in both smokers and non-smokers. The onset of CIVD in smokers (4.5 +/- 1.5 min) was delayed compared to non-smoker (3.3 +/- 0.8 min, p < .05). The area under the CVC %peak-time curve during cold-water immersion averaged 1250 +/- 388 CVC %peak center dot min in non-smokers which was larger (p < .05) than smokers with or without nicotine (789 +/- 542 and 862 +/- 517 CVC %peak center dot min, respectively). Chronic smoking impaired the CIVD response to cold-water immersion of the hand; however, the impaired CIVD response in 16 h of abstinence from smoking was not influenced by application of a 21 mg transdermal nicotine patch.