Serum Surfactant Protein A Levels in Healthy Individuals Are Increased in Smokers

Byline: H. Nomori (1), H. Horio (1), G. Fuyuno (2), R. Kobayashi (2), S. Morinaga (3), K. Suemasu (1) Keywords: Key words: Surfactant protein--Smoking--Alveolar type 2 cells--Age. Abstract: Serum levels of surfactant protein A (SP-A) were studied in 237 healthy subjects in relation to sex, age, and smoking habits. SP-A values in male smokers were significantly higher than those in male nonsmokers (p &lt 0.001). The amount of cigarette smoking did not correlate significantly with SP-A values, however. SP-A values in young nonsmoking males and females were somewhat lower than those in older, but without significant difference. No significant difference in values was found between the sexes. We conclude that (1) smoking increases serum levels of SP-A, and (2) SP-A serum levels are not affected by age and sex. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Surgery, Saiseikai Central Hospital, Tokyo, 108-0073, Japan, JP (2) Department of Medicine, Saiseikai Central Hospital, Tokyo, 108-0073, Japan, JP (3) Department of Pathology, Saiseikai Central Hospital, Tokyo, 108-0073, Japan, JP Article note: Accepted for publication: 6 March 1998