Abnormalities of hematologic parameters in heavy drinkers and alcoholics

Hematologic parameters measured by a Technicon H-1 analyzer and reticulocyte values were studied in three middle-aged male groups; 184 social drinkers, 88 heavy drinkers, and 106 alcoholics. Erythrocyte mean cell volume (MCV) correlated positively (p less than 0.001) with red cell distribution width (r = 0.388) and negatively with red blood cells (r = -0.594, p less than 0.001), hemoglobin distribution width (r = -0.330, p less than 0.001), cell by cell counted hemoglobin concentration (CHCM) (r = -0.434, p less than 0.001), and the ratio between standard deviation of CHCM and CHCM (r = -0.375, p less than 0.001). In spite of these correlations high red cell distribution width values were also found in alcoholic patients with normocytosis (MCV less than or equal to 96 fl). Alcohol induced abnormalities primarily in erythrocytes. The only significant abnormality in the heavy drinker group was a high value of erythrocyte MCV, which was found in 22.7%. In the alcoholic group the MCV value was high in 39.6%, and low erythrocyte values were detected in 16%. A high erythrocyte mean cell distribution width value indicating anisocytosis was found in 40.6% of the alcoholic group. In this material the specificities of these values were also good. The scatter cytogram for red blood cells did not give any valuable visual information in the abuser groups. Thus, certain abnormalities in the Technicon H-1 system parameters, even other than MCV, can be explained by alcohol abuse.