Effects of Cigarettes Smoking on Respiratory Tract Cytology among Yemeni Smokers in Hadhramout Governorate

Abstract

This study was conducted in Republic of Yemen- Hadramout Governorate in the period between October 2008 to April 2009. aimed to study the effects of smoking on respiratory tract cytology among smokers in Hadramout Governorate. 75 sputum samples were taken from smokers differ in duration of smoking and number of cigarettes per day with age ranged from 22- 68 years, also other 75 sputum samples were taken from non smokers as control group. Smear was prepared from each sample, fixed in 95% ethyl alcohol then stained with Papanicolaou stain and examine under the microscope. The study showed that there were an inflammatory cells (neutrophils) in 41 cases of study group (54.7%), but there were no statistical significant between these cells and duration of smoking and number of cigarettes per day. Also 54.7% of study group were reported to have metaplastic changes, 13.3% were showing dyskaryotic changes, this result was statistically significant with regard to duration of smoking and number of cigarettes per day. However, the control group were showing some cytological changes that were less severe than the study group, and this difference was statistically significant . The study suggested that the smoking may be suspected as an important risk factor causing cytological changes in the respiratory tract, so smokers should undergo continuous screening. On the basis of this study, cytomorphological assessment of sputum is essential for diagnosis of respiratory tract diseases