Clinical Hypersensitivity to Cigarette Smoke

Abstract

Eight individuals were observed to have clinical hypersensitivity to cigarette smoke, as well as lymphocyte stimulation when their peripheral blood lymphocytes were incubated in vitro with cigarette smoke. All eight individuals were nonsmokers with strong allergic backgrounds and all developed immediate upper respiratory discomfort after being exposed to cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke may be responsible for respiratory distress in nonsmoking sensitized individuals