The Hematological Complications of Alcoholism

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The Hematological Complications of Alcoholism The Hematological Complications of Alcoholism HAROLD S. BALLARD, M.D. Alcohol has numerous adverse effects on the various types of blood cells and their functions. For example, heavy alcohol consumption can cause generalized suppression of blood cell production and the production of structurally abnormal blood cell precursors that cannot mature into functional cells. Alcoholics frequently have defective red blood cells that are destroyed prematurely, possibly resulting in anemia. Alcohol also interferes with the production and function of white blood cells, especially those that defend the body against invading bacteria. Consequently, alcoholics frequently suffer from bacterial infections. Finally, alcohol adversely affects the platelets and other components of the blood-clotting system. Heavy alcohol consumption thus may increase the drinker’s risk of suffering a stroke. KEY WORDS: adverse drug effect; AODE (alcohol and other drug effects); blood function; cell growth and differentiation; erythrocytes; leukocytes; platelets; plasma proteins; bone marrow; anemia; blood coagulation; thrombocytopenia; fibrinolysis; macrophage; monocyte; stroke; bacterial disease; literature review eople who abuse alcohol1 are at both direct and indirect. The direct in the number and function of WBC’s risk for numerous alcohol-related consequences of excessive alcohol increases the drinker’s risk of serious Pmedical complications, includ- consumption include toxic effects on infection, and impaired platelet produc- ing those affecting the blood (i.e., the the bone marrow; the blood cell pre- tion and function interfere with blood cursors; and the mature red blood blood cells as well as proteins present clotting, leading to symptoms ranging in the blood plasma) and the bone cells (RBC’s), white blood cells from a simple nosebleed to bleeding in marrow, where the blood cells are (WBC’s), and platelets. Alcohol’s produced. (For more information on indirect effects include nutritional the brain (i.e., hemorrhagic stroke). Fin- the blood’s composition and on the deficiencies that impair the production ally, alcohol-induced abnormalities in various types of blood cells and their and function of various blood cells. the plasma proteins that are required for These direct and indirect effects of production, see sidebar, pp. 50–51.) 1 alcohol can result in serious medical In this article, the terms “chronic alcohol abuse” or Alcohol’s adverse effects on the blood- “chronic excessive alcohol consumption” refer to the building, or hematopoietic, system are problems for the drinker. For example, ingestion of 1 pint or more of 80- to 90-proof alcohol anemia2 resulting from diminished (i.e., about 11 drinks) per day. However, alcohol- RBC production and impaired RBC related hematological problems can occur at much HAROLD S. BALLARD, M.D., is associate lower consumption levels. The drinker’s risk for chief of hematology and oncology at metabolism and function can cause developing these problems grows with increasing the New York Department of Veterans fatigue, shortness of breath, lighthead- alcohol consumption. Affairs Medical Center, New York, edness, and even reduced mental capac- 2For the definition of this and other technical terms New York. ity and abnormal heartbeats. A decrease used in this article, see the central glossary, pp. 93–96. 42 ALCOHOL HEALTH & RESEARCH WORLD Hematological Complications of Alcoholism blood clotting can lead to the formation of blood clots (i.e., thrombosis). This article summarizes current ALCOHOL’S EFFECTS ON IRON METABOLISM information on the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption on the In addition to interfering with the proper absorption of iron into the bone marrow and on the production hemoglobin molecules of red blood cells (RBC’s), alcohol use can lead and function of RBC’s, WBC’s, plate- to either iron deficiency or excessively high levels of iron in the body. lets, and plasma proteins. Because iron is essential to RBC functioning, iron deficiency, which is commonly caused by excessive blood loss, can result in anemia. In many alcoholic patients, blood loss and subsequent iron deficiency are caused ALCOHOL’S EFFECTS ON THE by gastrointestinal bleeding. Iron deficiency in alcoholics often is diffi- BONE MARROW AND ON RBC cult to diagnose, however, because it may be masked by symptoms of PRODUCTION other nutritional deficiencies (e.g., folic acid deficiency) or by coexisting liver disease and other alcohol-related inflammatory conditions. For an Alcohol is the most commonly used accurate diagnosis, the physician must therefore exclude folic acid drug whose consequences include the deficiency and evaluate the patient’s iron stores in the bone marrow. suppression of blood cell production, Conversely, alcohol abuse can increase iron levels in the body. For or hematopoiesis. Because its toxic example, iron absorption from the food in the gastrointestinal tract may effects are dose dependent, however, be elevated in alcoholics. Iron levels also can rise from excessive significantly impaired hematopoiesis ingestion of iron-containing alcoholic beverages, such as red wine. The usually occurs only in people with increased iron levels can cause hemochromatosis, a condition character- severe alcoholism, who also may suffer ized by the formation of iron deposits throughout the body (e.g., in the from nutritional deficiencies of folic liver, pancreas, heart, joints, and gonads). Moreover, patients whose acid and other vitamins that play a role chronic alcohol consumption and hemochromatosis have led to liver in blood cell development. Chronic cirrhosis are at increased risk for liver cancer. excessive alcohol ingestion reduces the number of blood cell precursors in the bone marrow and causes characteristic cavities (i.e., vacuoles) or characteris- tions) may induce similar structural structural abnormalities in these cells, tic iron deposits. changes in the granulocyte precursors. resulting in fewer-than-normal or non- The precise mechanism underly- functional mature blood cells. As a Development of Vacuoles in RBC ing vacuole development in blood result, alcoholics may suffer from Precursors cell precursors currently is unknown. moderate anemia, characterized by Microscopic analyses of early blood enlarged, structurally abnormal RBC’s; The most striking indication of alco- cell precursors grown in tissue cul- mildly reduced numbers of WBC’s, hol’s toxic effects on bone marrow ture suggest that when the cells are especially of neutrophils; and moder- cells is the appearance of numerous exposed to a wide range of alcohol ately to severely reduced numbers of large vacuoles in early RBC precursor concentrations, the membrane sur- platelets. Although this generalized cells. It is unknown whether these rounding each cell is damaged. These reduction in blood cell numbers (i.e., vacuoles affect the cell’s function and alterations in membrane structure may pancytopenia) usually is not progres- thus the drinker’s health; however, play an influential role in vacuole sive or fatal and is reversible with ab- their appearance generally is consid- formation. ered an indicator of excessive alcohol stinence, complex aberrations of 3 hematopoiesis can develop over time consumption. The vacuoles usually Sideroblastic Anemia that may cause death. appear in the pronormoblasts 5 to 7 Many bone marrow abnormalities days following the initiation of heavy One component of RBC’s is hemo- occurring in severe alcoholics affect alcohol consumption. Moreover, the globin, an iron-containing substance the RBC precursor cells. These abnor- vacuoles on average disappear after 3 that is essential for oxygen transport. malities most prominently include to 7 days of abstinence, although in Sometimes, however, the iron is not precursors containing fluid-filled some patients they persist for up to 2 incorporated properly into the hemo- weeks. globin molecules. Instead, it is con- 3Less commonly, vacuole development in pronor- To a lesser extent, vacuoles also verted into a storage form called moblasts also can occur after treatment with the develop in the granulocyte precursors ferritin, which can accumulate in RBC antibiotic chloramphenicol. The two conditions can of alcoholics. This finding is not precursors, often forming granules that easily be distinguished, however, because in contrast specifically alcohol related, however, encircle the cell’s nucleus. These fer- to the alcohol-induced vacuolation, chloramphenicol- induced vacuolation is accompanied by the disappear- because other events that interfere ritin-containing cells, which are called ance of virtually all later RBC precursors. with WBC production (e.g., infec- ringed sideroblasts, cannot mature VOL. 21, NO. 1, 1997 43 patients contain ringed sideroblasts ALCOHOL-RELATED RBC in their bone marrow. Alcohol may DISORDERS cause sideroblastic anemia by interfer- Alcohol-related abnormalities in RBC Liver ing with the activity of an enzyme that disease Hypersplenism mediates a critical step in hemoglobin production manifest themselves not only in the bone marrow but also synthesis. (For information on other through the presence of defective effects of alcohol on iron metabolism, Blood loss RBC’s in the blood. For example, see box, p. 43) Abstinence can reverse grossly enlarged RBC’s can occur in this effect: The ringed sideroblasts the blood—a condition called macro- generally disappear from the bone cytosis—as well as oddly shaped marrow within 5 to 10 days, and RBC RBC’s that are subject to
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