[Effect of chronic alcoholism on the state of the microcirculatory bed of the myocardium].

Ultrastructure of myocardial capillaries of rats was studied in cases of chronic alcohol intoxication, experimental alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) and its correction with antioxidants (vitamin E, dibunol). Alterations in the microcirculatory bed were similar in all groups of animals irrespective of disturbances in cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocyte ultrastructure was improved after treatment with antioxidants, but capillary bed was the same as in untreated animals. High dibunol doses caused the onset of perivascular sclerosis. Disturbances in the microcirculatory bed are, probably, the first step in the determination of ACM pathogenesis and therapy of ACM must be directed at the correction of both alterations of cardiomyocytes and capillary bed.