Quantitative histomorphometric study of the jejunal mucosa in chronic alcoholics

Jejunal suction biopsies of 18 chronic alcoholics (alcohol intake of more than 100 g of ethanol per day for several years) and 10 nonalcoholic control subjects were analyzed quantitatively using the microdissection technique described by Clarke. Both groups were comparable concerning age, body weight and sex. The duration of alcohol withdrawal in the alcoholics before the biopsy was taken ranged from 2 to 7 days. The mean number of villi and surface per villus was slightly lower in the jejunum of the alcoholics. The mucosal surface per mm2 was significantly lower in the latter group when compared to the controls (p less than 0.005). The ratio of the number of crypts per villi was increased in the alcoholics (p less than 0.05). Histological evaluation revealed a more than twofold increase in the number of interepithelial mononuclear cells (p less than 0.005), while the number of epithelial cells/100 microns of villous mucosa and the mean height of the epithelial cells were comparable in both groups.