[Effect of ethanol on human polynuclear neutrophils. In vitro and in vivo study]

Human polynuclear neutrophilic function was studied to determine the role of alcohol in the increased susceptibility to infection of chronic alcoholics: in vitro studies investigated the effects of different concentrations of ethanol; in vivo studies included comparison with healthy subjects after alcohol intake, with excessive drinkers without liver disease and with chronic alcoholics with confirmed cirrhosis. In vitro depression of polynuclear neutrophilic function was observed only with significantly higher concentrations of ethanol than encountered clinically. In social and excessive drinkers, phagocytosis was decreased but there was no change in bactericidal activity. On the other hand, in cirrhotic alcoholics chemotaxis, phagocytosis and bactericidal activity were all significantly reduced. A direct action of alcohol alone on polynuclear function would not seem to be the cause of the increased risk of bacterial infection of chronic alcoholics.