ACTIVATED LYMPHOCYTES (CD25(-NOURISHED CHRONIC-ALCOHOLICS WITHOUT ETHANOL-RELATED DISEASES() CD69(+) CELLS) AND DECREASED CD19(+) CELLS IN WELL)

To assess lymphocyte subsets and expression of activation antigens in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in chronic alcoholism, a cross-sec tional study with 30 well-nourished chronic alcoholics and 30 controls was performed, Studies included detailed clinical and laboratory eval uation, nutritional status assessment, and determination of lymphocyte subpopulations, as well as activation antigens, A significant decreas e of B cells (CD19(+)) was observed in chronic alcoholics, compared wi th controls (p < 0.001), A significant increase of PBLs expressing CD6 9 and CD25 (p < 0.01, both) in chronic alcoholics was also detected, w hereas CD71 expression was unaffected. In addition, T lymphocytes expr essing HLA-DR were significantly higher in chronic alcoholics than con trols (p < 0.05), The serum level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor wa s also significantly higher in the alcoholic group, compared with cont rols (p = 0.04), Moreover, the estimated total lifetime dose of ethano l consumed correlated positively with the percentage of PBLs expressin g CD25 (r = 0.48; p = 0.01) and negatively with PBLs expressing CD71 ( r = -0.39; p = 0.04). By contrast, the changes were not related to age , nutritional status, or the presence of other ethanol-related disease s, In conclusion, chronic alcoholics present a significant decrease of B cells and an ''incomplete activation state'' of PBLs that depends o n the dose of ethanol consumed.