RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Chronic smoking adversely affects peripheral vasculature. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chronic cigarette smoking on rectal microvascular blood flow. METHODS: Rectal mucosal blood flow (MBF) was measured in 80 subjects (44 smokers and 36 non-smokers). The MBF was measured in the four quadrants of the rectum by laser Doppler flowmetry. RESULTS: Rectal perfusion was found to be significantly lower in posterior midline compared to the other sites. In chronic smokers the observed MBF measured at the posterior and ventral sites was significantly lower compared to non-smokers (P = 0.04 and P = 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that rectal mucosal blood flow is reduced in chronic smokers.