Effects of aspirin and alcohol on platelet thromboxane synthesis and vascular prostacyclin synthesis.

We have studied interactions between aspirin and alcohol in vitro with regard to their effects on platelet thromboxane synthesis and vascular prostacyclin synthesis. Alcohol did not affect the inhibition by aspirin of platelet thromboxane synthesis. However, low concentrations of alcohol (0.05-0.15%, v/v) reversed the inhibition by aspirin of vascular prostacyclin synthesis. Since the effects on prostacyclin and thromboxane synthesis would favour bleeding rather than haemostasis, the observations reported herein may explain previous reports of a potentiation by alcohol of the aspirin-induced increase in bleeding time.