HEMATOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CHRONIC -ALCOHOLICS AND SUBJECTS RISK

Red cell functional and structural characteristics were studied in 146 patients with chronic alcoholism (CA) stage II, 47 workers of hydroly sis plant exposed to ethyl alcohol inhalations (risk group) and 100 he althy controls (male blood donors). It was found that CA patients and risk group subjects have similar changes in the erythron system, thoug h in alcoholics these were much more pronounced: elevated count of red cells, blood hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, increased mean siz e of red cells and intensity of 24-h erythropoiesis in reduced red cel l survival. Scanning electron microscopy revealed abnormal surface arc hitectonics of red cells. Insulin-deposition and insulin-transport fun ctions of the latter were also impaired. The evidence obtained may pro ve useful for specification of risk groups and somatic diseases at var ious alcoholism stages.