title: [Cytomorphologic diagnosis of iron utilization disturbance in chronic alcohol abuse].
abstract: 45 consecutive patients with chronic alcohol abuse up to the day before admission were examined to determine to what extent the bone marrow smear can be used to detect alcohol abuse and to monitor abstinence. Bone marrow aspiration was performed within the first three days of admission and repeated an average of two weeks later in 35 patients. Using Prussian Blue staining, disturbances of iron utilization presented the most striking hematologic finding and were detected in 91% (41/45) of subjects. By contrast, both abnormal vacuolization of red and/or white cell precursors (in 38%) and megaloblastic marrow (in 27%) of patients respectively occurred significantly less often (p less than 0.005). However, if iron stores were fully depleted no sideroblasts were detectable. Obviously, iron deficiency limited the development both of normal and pathological sideroblasts. Sideroachrestic disturbances were divided into four degrees of severity according to frequency and types of sideroblasts. 3 pathological types of sideroblasts were differentiated: two forms of abnormal intermediate sideroblasts and ring sideroblasts, representing an increasing degree of sideroachrestic disturbance. The intermediate types were much more common than the ringed forms and therefore claim full attention. Abstinence from alcohol caused a highly significant decrease in sideroachrestic signs, as shown by the sideroblast score (p less than 0.005), which largely returned to normal in the period of examination. On the other hand, no significant decrease in the control value of the sideroblast score was observed in the patients which did not abstain from alcohol.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D001856:Bone Marrow Examination; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
vernacular_title: Zytomorphologische Diagnostik der Eisenverwertungsstörung bei chronischem Alkoholmissbrauch.