Haematological findings in chronic alcoholics after heavy drinking with special reference to haemolysis.
Haematological abnormalities are frequently found in heavy-drinking chronic alcoholics, but anaemia is generally a rare complication. When present, haemolysis is considered to be one of the most common causes. However, little is known about mild haemolysis without anaemia. The present report on eighteen male chronic alcoholics with a recent heavy debauche but without signs of severe liver disease gave support for the occurrence of a reversible low-degree haemolysis without concomitant gross changes of the erythrocytes. Thus the bone marrow showed an increased erythropoiesis in the absence of iron deficiency and known blood losses. Further, increased reticulocyte counts and low levels of haemopexin were noted in the early abstinence. Finally, during the withdrawal phase haptoglobin and haemopexin increased concomitantly with diminishing values of unconjugated bilirubin. The most likely cause of the proposed diminished red cell survival before the withdrawal is supposed to be a reduced membrane stability.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged