Effect of alcohol on the oral mucosa assessed by quantitative cytomorphometry

The effect of alcohol on the oral mucosa was assessed using quantitative cy tomorphology applied to smears taken from clinically normal oral mucosa of patients attending an alcohol problem unit and results were compared to a c ontrol group (consisting of social and non-drinkers) attending a hospital f or routine dental care. Smears were stained using the Papanicolaou method a nd the nuclear and cell boundaries of 50 randomly selected cells traced and mean areas (NA and CA, respectively) calculated. The average number of uni ts of alcohol consumed were recorded for each group together with relevant blood tests. The alcohol group was further subdivided into "binge" and "reg ular" drinkers. No significant differences were found between mean NA and m ean CA values for these two types of alcohol drinkers, despite a marked dif ference in weekly units consumed. However, a statistically significant redu ction in mean cytoplasmic area (P<0.001) and mean nuclear area (P<0.01) was found for the alcohol group when compared to controls. In conclusion, exce ss alcohol intake may influence results for quantitative oral cytomorpholog y. Further research is indicated on the relative effects of alcohol (both t opical and systemic).