Aims and objectives: To analyse the leukocyte myeloperoxidase activity and serum C-reactive protein levels in smokers, passive smokers and non-smokers and to evaluate the risk of developing inflammation that may lead to lung cancer in smokers in general and passive smokers in particular, by comparing the levels with nonsmokers

Methodology:.Study design comprised of three groups;active smokers(Smokers who have smoked more than 5 cigarettes/ day for a minimum period of 2 years.) passive smokers(Smokers exposed to smoke for a duration of >30 minutes/day, ≥5 days a week for one year or more (waiters in a pub/restaurant) and controls (non smokers). All patients with puemococcal infections were eliminated from the study .Leukocyte MPO & serum CRP (semiquantitative assay) were performed with patient s samples. Data was analysed by ANOVA followed by post hoc tests. Odds ratio was also calculated for the study groups.

Results: There was no significance in the study groups  with respect to both MPO as well as CRP.

Conclusion : CRP or MPO may not be the ideal  markers to predict the probability of developing an inflammatory disorder  in persons exposed to passive smoke.