Composition of platelet phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine after ethanol withdrawal.

Platelet phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine composition, ADP-induced platelet aggregation and associated thromboxane B2 formation were studied in alcoholics after a period of heavy drinking and in healthy non-alcoholic volunteers. The composition of these phospholipids in alcoholics was different from that seen in the control subjects. The most prominent change was a decrease in the relative amount of stearoyl-arachidonoyl species in the phosphatidylinositol fraction. Particularly this species of PI might be involved in the transmission of transmembrane signals. During detoxification changes were also observed in the extent of ADP-induced platelet aggregation and the amount of thromboxane B2 produced. Changes in platelet phospholipid composition might influence platelet reactivity in alcoholics.