[Hemostasis system and immune reactivity in patients with acute pneumonia and chronic alcoholism]

Hemostasis system and immune reactivity were studied in chronic alcoholics with (92 subjects) and without (65 subjects) acute pneumonia. Activation and antiplasmin activities of blood in the alcoholics were found reduced. In associated alcoholism and pneumonia the two diseases aggravate each other causing a sharp suppression of lymphocytic component of immunity and inhibition of plasminogen activator activity. The majority of patients respond with a compensatory rise in the number of monocytes with active receptors. In coupled lymphocytopenia and monocytopenia the favorable outcome is unlikely. The prognosis is more beneficial in enhanced systemic fibrinolysis observed in elevated count of mononuclears with active Fc-receptors suggesting laboratory evidence for convalescence.