INCREASED URINARY-EXCRETION OF A MAJOR THROMBOXANE METABOLITE IN EARLY ALCOHOL-WITHDRAWAL

Urinary excretion of 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B-2 as a marker of in vivo thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) biosynthesis was measured in six alcoholics 1 and 14 days after the cessation of heavy drinking using gas chromato graphy/mass spectrometry. Six non-alcoholic healthy volunteers served as controls. One day after alcohol withdrawal the excretion of the din er metabolite was significantly higher (P<0.01) in the alcoholics (408 +/- 42 pg mg(-1) creatinine) than in the controls (180 +/- 30 pg mg(- 1) creatinine) and was accompanied by a significantly reduced platelet count (103.0+/-20.2x10(9) l(-1) vs. 194.0+/-13.9x10(9) l(-1) in contr ols; P<0.01). The metabolite excretion fell then significantly (P<0.05 ) to 245+/-53 pg mg(-1) creatinine 14 days after alcohol withdrawal an d this was paralleled by an increase in platelet count to 453.5+/-72.0 x10(9) l(-1) (P<0.05). The present results support the hypothesis that Tx-A(2) biosynthesis is increased in early alcohol withdrawal and str ongly suggest platelets as a cellular origin of the increased TxA(2) f ormation.