The material for the present study
included 24 patients (18males &
6femals) with osteoarthritis (OA) selected
from Rheumatology and rehabilitation
out patients clinic Mansoura
University
Hospital with age range
from
(45-67 years). 16 patients were
heavy
smokers consuming > 20 cigarette
/day for long duration > 15
years
while 8 patients were non
smokers.
8 normal (non smokers)
healthy
volunteers with matched age
and
sex served as control. All patients
were subjected to radiologic
assessment
of (OA) using Kellgren
Lawrence
grading scal, and clinical
assessment
including body mass index
(BMI) and WOMAC (Western
Ontario
and McMaster universities)
index
of osteoarthritis. Using Perkins Elmer atomic absorption spectrophotometry
, both plasma cadmium (Cd)
and
lead (Pb) levels were found to
be
significantly increased among patients
with OA exposed to intoxication
through heavy cigarette smoking
for
long duration. A+ve correlation
was
found between plasma Cd & Pb
levels
and severity of OA. Also plasma
Cd & Pb levels were found to be
significantly
increased among, middle
aged , slim (non obese) smokers
with
OA compared with elderly
obese
patients. In light of previous
findings
we can conclude that exposure
to toxic effect of smoking for
long duration may contribute to pathogenesis
of OA even in absence of
some
other risk factors such as older
age
and obesity