A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF IMMUNOLOGICAL CHANGES LINKED TO ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE USE IN MALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

The growing popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), especially among young adults, is concerning due to the possible impacts on immune system function. This study evaluates the effect of e-cigarette usage on the immunological profile in a sample of 80 male university students aged 18 to 24 years. Participants were divided into two groups of 50 electronic cigarette users and 30 non-electronic cigarette users as the control. Key immunological parameters, including C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA), Cardiolipin Antibodies, and White Blood Cells (WBC) counts and differentials, were examined. Electronic cigarette users had significantly elevated ANA positivity (98% vs. 3.3%; p=0.0001), Cardiolipin antibodies (31.70 ± 0.882U/mL vs. 17.61 ± 0.928 U/mL; p=0.0001), indicating possible autoimmune activation, and IL-6 levels (50.546 ± 12.622 pg/mL vs. 17.616 ± 0.928 pg/mL; p=0.0001), which suggested systemic inflammation. CRP (1.159 ± 0.144mg/L vs. 1.170 ± 0.184mg/L; p=0.9567) did not differ significantly. The groups' WBC counts and differentials (neutrophils, lymphocytes) were similar (p > 0.05). These results show that electronic cigarette use is associated with a pro-inflammatory state (IL-6) and an autoimmune association (ANA and cardiolipin), but it did not affect acute-phase response (CRP). To investigate long-term immunological effects, further investigation is necessary.