The Association of Tobacco Smoking and Level of Apoptosis in the Long Head of the Biceps Chronic Tendinopathy-An Immunohistochemical Study.

While apoptotic processes in the LHB tendon were observed, no significant association was found between tobacco smoking, the extent of apoptosis, and clinical outcomes. However, the expression of the apoptotic marker cleaved caspase 3 correlated with the severity of rotator cuff pathology. Furthermore, active smoker status was associated with worse clinical outcomes in terms of pain following LHB tenodesis or tenotomy.