[Immunity defects in acute and chronic alcohol intoxication].

An acute alcohol intoxication in occasional drinkers is much more common problem than chronic intoxication in alcohol dependent persons. Acute alcohol intoxication, often called binge drinking, results in specific defects in innate immunity. Chronic alcohol intoxication leads to defects in both the innate and the adaptive immunity. Acute and chronic alcohol intoxication typically decrease phagocytosis but also may increase pathological immune response with induction of acute phase proteins and increase in levels of immunoglobulins. Although alcohol-dependent persons have usually elevated levels of immunoglobulins, they are often immunodeficient. High levels of immunoglobulins are usually the manifestation of autoimmunity. The toxic effect of alcohol on the immunity may be due to direct ethanol action or to its metabolite acetaldehyde and generated reactive oxygen species, or to non-oxidative metabolites - fatty acid ethyl esters.