[Erythrocytes and alcohol: hemorheologic manifestations of alcoholism]

Hemorheological parameters were studied in 218 subjects: 129 alcoholic liver diseases, 19 alcoholic patients without liver damage, 20 liver diseases without alcoholism and 50 controls. Whole blood filtration (WBF) is significantly decreased in the group of alcoholic patients; whole blood and plasma viscosity are increased in the groups of alcoholic patients as well as in the group of non alcoholic liver diseases. The liver damage seems not to be a determining factor to the genesis of filterability impairment. Alcohol and/or one of its metabolites induce erythrocytes morphological alterations (scanning electro-microscopy) correlated with some alterations of the RBC membrane lipids content (increased cholesterol/phospholipids ratio). It is suggested that these hemorheological patterns must be discussed in cases of alcoholic liver diseases as well as in following up alcohol withdrawal.