Platelet thromboxane formation and bleeding time is influenced by ethanol withdrawal but not by cigarette smoking

Platelet count, mean volume, aggregation and associated thromboxane (TXB2) formation, circulating platelet aggregates and bleeding time were examined in 19 noncirrhotic male alcoholic cigarette smokers for four weeks following cessation of prolonged heavy drinking, and in 24 nonalcoholic healthy male volunteers (10 smokers and 14 nonsmokers). The alcoholics showed a 9-fold increase (p less than 0.001) in ADP-stimulated platelet thromboxane formation one to two weeks after ethanol withdrawal. The effect was transient and coincided with a significant (p less than 0.01) shortening of skin bleeding time and a slight increase in circulating platelet aggregates suggesting proneness to thrombosis. No differences were seen between the smoking and nonsmoking healthy volunteers. We conclude that the recovery phase after prolonged heavy drinking is characterized by a transient increase in platelet reactivity which may lead to increased spontaneous formation of circulating platelet aggregates and shortening of bleeding time.