ALCOHOL AND PLATELET-FUNCTION

Epidemiological studies have shown that moderate consumption of alcoho lic beverages is inversely related to the incidence of the complicatio ns of coronary artery disease. The protective effect of ethanol may be partially attributable to an inhibitory effect of ethanol on platelet s. This article summarizes the experimental observations that ethanol inhibits platelet responses to specific physiological agonists. In alc oholics, various platelet defects have been observed, but these may be influenced by metabolic factors rather than the presence of ethanol a lone. The acute effects of ethanol on platelet functions both in vivo and ex vivo will be reviewed. Evidence will be presented demonstrating that ethanol added acutely in vitro inhibits phospholipase A(2) in st imulated platelets. The interaction of ethanol with other signal trans duction pathways will also be discussed.