The effect of cigarette smoking on ceruloplasmin and C3 complement: risk of cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis).

Serum ceruloplasmin, C3 complement and albumin in 119 male smokers and 65 male non-smoker; from a military unit in Bangkok were investigated in this study. The serum ceruloplasmin concentration was found to be significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers. However, the serum albumin concentration in smokers was statistically significantly lower than in non-smokers. Significant associations were also found between ages, albumin levels and the quantity of cigarettes smoked. There was a significant positive correlation between serum ceruloplasmin and C3 complement concentrations. An association between the quantity of cigarettes smoked and albumin was also found, as well as a significant relationship between smoking and the quantities of cigarettes smoked to serum ceruloplasmin levels when smoking and the quantity of cigarettes smoked were taken as independent variables, and the serum ceruloplasmin levels as a dependent variable. This might suggest that high concentrations of the acute-phase protein, i.e. ceruloplasmin, might constitute a risk of developing atherosclerosis or cardiovascular disease in smokers.