Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research
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Alcohol abuse is known to increase erythrocyte mean cell volume mainly as a consequence of direct toxic effect on the developing red cell. The influence of alcohol on other red cell parameters is unclear. The objective of this cross-sectional survey was to examine the consequences of different alcohol amounts on red cell parameters among women. ⋯ In alcoholics, red cell distribution width values were even more often increased (in 44%) than erythrocyte mean cell volume values (in 34%). This increase in red cell distribution width was not solely explained by iron deficiency or liver disease. Chronic alcohol abuse not only affects erythrocyte mean cell volume values, but also leads to anisocytosis seen in blood count as an increased red cell distribution width value.