Thrombccytopenia related to the severity of alcoholism.

Platelet counts of 42 alcoholics studied showed that 88% of them had thrombocytopenia. This hematological response to ethanol was dose related. Liver function assessed by biochemical tests showed no liver parenchymal damage and hence could not explain the thrombocytopenia. It has been suggested that this effect may result from a direct effect of ethanol on bone marrow from shortened platelet survival or their sequestration.