[Alcohol-related disturbances in haematopoiesis (author's transl)]. 1978

H D Waller, and H C Benöhr

Alcohol-related disturbances are seen against the three blood cell systems. They appear after important alcohol consumption within few days and are independent from the existence of liver cirrhosis with splenomegaly. They are promptly and completely reversible after interruption of alcohol supply. Disturbances in erythropoiesis are manifested in bone marrow with megaloblasts, ring sideroblasts, and vacuoles in cytoplasma and nucleus of nucleated red cells. They are caused by folate deficiency and by perturbations of iron utilization, which is perhaps connected with impaired heme synthesis following pyridoxal phosphate deficiency. Serum iron generally increases during alcohol consumption and decreases in the following alcohol-free period. The anemia may be macrocytic and normochromic or dimorphic with hypochromic microcytes. Anemias of hard alcohol drinkers are observed also as consequence of bleeding or hemolysis of different causes. The lability against infections of drinkers is associated with changes in granulopoiesis. The most important findings are granulocytopenia, vacuoles in the immature marrow cells, perturbations in granulopoietic maturation, and decrease of marrow response. Frequently, alcohol drinkers demonstrate thrombocytopenia which is caused by ineffective thrombopoiesis and by shortened life span of platelets as direct effect of ethanol. Functional impairments of thrombocytes have been published, too.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007501 Iron A metallic element with atomic symbol Fe, atomic number 26, and atomic weight 55.85. It is an essential constituent of HEMOGLOBINS; CYTOCHROMES; and IRON-BINDING PROTEINS. It plays a role in cellular redox reactions and in the transport of OXYGEN. Iron-56,Iron 56
D007970 Leukopenia A decrease in the number of LEUKOCYTES in a blood sample below the normal range (LEUKOCYTE COUNT less than 4000). Leukocytopenia,Leukocytopenias,Leukopenias
D009748 Nutrition Disorders Disorders caused by nutritional imbalance, either overnutrition or undernutrition. Nutritional Disorders,Nutrition Disorder,Nutritional Disorder
D001854 Bone Marrow Cells Cells contained in the bone marrow including fat cells (see ADIPOCYTES); STROMAL CELLS; MEGAKARYOCYTES; and the immediate precursors of most blood cells. Bone Marrow Cell,Cell, Bone Marrow,Cells, Bone Marrow,Marrow Cell, Bone,Marrow Cells, Bone
D005494 Folic Acid Deficiency A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of FOLIC ACID in the diet. Many plant and animal tissues contain folic acid, abundant in green leafy vegetables, yeast, liver, and mushrooms but destroyed by long-term cooking. Alcohol interferes with its intermediate metabolism and absorption. Folic acid deficiency may develop in long-term anticonvulsant therapy or with use of oral contraceptives. This deficiency causes anemia, macrocytic anemia, and megaloblastic anemia. It is indistinguishable from vitamin B 12 deficiency in peripheral blood and bone marrow findings, but the neurologic lesions seen in B 12 deficiency do not occur. (Merck Manual, 16th ed) Deficiency, Folic Acid,Acid Deficiencies, Folic,Acid Deficiency, Folic,Deficiencies, Folic Acid,Folic Acid Deficiencies
D006410 Hematopoiesis The development and formation of various types of BLOOD CELLS. Hematopoiesis can take place in the BONE MARROW (medullary) or outside the bone marrow (HEMATOPOIESIS, EXTRAMEDULLARY). Hematopoiesis, Medullary,Haematopoiesis,Medullary Hematopoiesis
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000437 Alcoholism A primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Each of these symptoms may be continuous or periodic. (Morse & Flavin for the Joint Commission of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction Medicine to Study the Definition and Criteria for the Diagnosis of Alcoholism: in JAMA 1992;268:1012-4) Alcohol Abuse,Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic,Ethanol Abuse,Alcohol Addiction,Alcohol Dependence,Alcohol Use Disorder,Abuse, Alcohol,Abuse, Ethanol,Addiction, Alcohol,Alcohol Use Disorders,Chronic Alcoholic Intoxication,Dependence, Alcohol,Intoxication, Chronic Alcoholic,Use Disorders, Alcohol
D000740 Anemia A reduction in the number of circulating ERYTHROCYTES or in the quantity of HEMOGLOBIN. Anemias
D013921 Thrombocytopenia A subnormal level of BLOOD PLATELETS. Thrombopenia,Thrombocytopenias,Thrombopenias

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