[Effects of acute loading of alcohol on platelet aggregation in normal subjects]

Ten healthy subjects were submitted to alcohol loading (0.8 g/kg body weight; average alcohol blood level 0.97 g 0/00). The number of platelets, hematocrit and ADP-induced platelet aggregation curves did not show any variation from baseline. Significant changes (p less than 0.05) were observed as regards latent period (increased) and maximum amplitude (reduced) for collagen-induced platelet aggregation. In agreement with others, the authors conclude that alcohol definitely inhibits platelet aggregation.