Serum placental-like alkaline phosphatase levels and nicotine intake in smokers

In this study the authors have explored the quantitative relationship between the amount of cigarette smoke inhaled each day and elevations in serum PLAP-like AP levels in an attempt to relate possible early tumorigenic events with tobacco consumption. The results of these studies showed that there was a progressive increase in mean serum PLAP-like AP levels, urinary nicotine metabolite excretion (expressed as NM/C ratios), and serum cotinine levels with increasing self-reported cigarette consumption. Thus there were highly significant and positive correlations between any two of these four variables.