Cytomorphological analysis of urinary cells among active and passive cigarette smokers in South-West, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Cigarette smoke contains thousands of identified chemicals, among which sixty-nine (69) of these chemicals are known to be poisonous to humans and are capable of causing cancer in any part of the body. This study was conducted to evaluate the cytology of urinary cells among active and passive cigarette smokers in South-Western Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Urine samples were collected from 250 active cigarette smokers and 200 passive cigarette smokers who live in South-Western, Nigeria. The urine specimen was collected from participants and processed using the standard technique for microscopic examination. Smears were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Papanicolaou stain. Results: The urinary smears of passive cigarette smokers revealed normal superficial squamous cells, transitional cells, cast, necrotic debris and mild inflammatory cells, while that of active cigarette smokers revealed high cellular turnover, protein casts, dysplastic epithelial cells and atypical urothelial cells with degenerative features. Conclusion: On the basis of this study, the cytomorphological analysis of urinary smears among active cigarette smokers revealed cytopathological features which connote the harmful effects of the chemical constituents present in cigarette smoke.