Chronic smoking in an animal model. Effects on clotting and fibrinolysis.

The effects of chronic smoking upon fibrinogen turnover and other clotting parameters, were studied prospectively in an animal model maintained on a chronic program for a period of 18 months. The animal received the equivalent on a weight basis of 11/2 packs of cigarettes daily, smoked by a human subject with the weight of 70 kg. The obtained results suggested significant enhancement of the coagulation mechanism in the smoking animals developing over the period of observation particularly when combined with high lipid diet.