Suppression of Hematopoiesis by Ethanol *

Effect of Alcohol on Serum Folate Level

“…Alcohol seems to accelerate the induction of megaloblastic anemia in subjects on a low folate diet (8). Moreover, alcohol can prevent or abort the hematologic response to folic acid in subjects with folate-deficient anemia (9). Thus, alcohol seems to have a specific detrimental effect on folate metabolism.…”

Crucial Role of ADAMTS13 Related to Endotoxemia and Subsequent Cytokinemia in the Progression of Alcoholic Hepatitis

“…Both quantitative and qualitative platelet abnormalities appear during alcohol consumption (Cowan, 1980). A decrease in circulating platelets was first reported in 3 alcoholics who responded to folic acid administration (Sullivan & Herbert, 1964). Subsequently, alcohol has been shown to exert a direct toxic effect on blood platelets in 5 chronic alcoholics with ten episodes of thrombocytopenia (Lindenbaum & Hargrove, 1968) and in 8 patients with acute alcoholism (Post & Desforges, 1968a), who showed no evidence of liver cirrhosis, splenomegaly, folate deficiency, or massive hemorrhage, indicating the presence of alcohol-related thrombocytopenia.…”

“…Thereafter, the number of platelets increases, and maximum counts occur 5-21 days after cessation of alcohol (Cowan & Hines, 1971), when rebound thrombocytosis after alcohol abuse in some patients may contribute to thromboembolic disease (Haselager & Vreeken, 1977). Potential mechanisms for alcohol-related thrombocytopenia may involve a suppressive effect of alcohol on megakaryocyte maturation and platelet release (Sullivan & Herbert, 1964), reduced platelet survival time (Cowan, 1980), alterations of platelet structure (Cowan, 1980), and abnormalities of platelet metabolism involving adenosine nucleotides and eicosanoids (Cowan, 1980). The spectrum of platelet function defects in alcoholics is complex.…”

Ethanol-induced neutrophil apoptosis is mediated through nitric oxide

“…Ethanol ingestion has been associated with neutropenia in humans [1][2][3][4][5]. However, the occurrence of ethanol-associated neutropenia has been reported in only a limited number of cases and more so during acute intoxication in chronic alcoholics [5,6].…”

“…Ethanol may alter the host defense status in multiple ways including liver injury, malnutrition, and deranged leukocyte function [6,13,14]. In addition to neutropenia [1][2][3][4][5], acute ethanol intoxication has been observed to decrease neutrophil mobilization to sites of inflammation [15]. In addition, ethanol decreased the adherence of neutrophils to endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner in both in vitro and in vivo studies [16,17].…”