[Hematologic characteristics of patients with chronic alcoholism and people at risk]

Red cell functional and structural characteristics were studied in 146 patients with chronic alcoholism (CA) stage II, 47 workers of hydrolysis plant exposed to ethyl alcohol inhalations (risk group) and 100 healthy controls (male blood donors). It was found that CA patients and risk group subjects have similar changes in the erythron system, though in alcoholics these were much more pronounced: elevated count of red cells, blood hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, increased mean size of red cells and intensity of 24-h erythropoiesis in reduced red cell survival. Scanning electron microscopy revealed abnormal surface architectonics of red cells. Insulin-deposition and insulin-transport functions of the latter were also impaired. The evidence obtained may prove useful for specification of of risk groups and somatic diseases at various alcoholism stages.