Alcohol-associated pancytopenia with hypocellular bone marrow.

Two patients who presented with pancytopenia and bone marrow hypocellularity are described. Both patients had consumed alcohol in excess for many years, and one patient had previously presented with alcohol-associated thrombocytopenia and a hypocellular marrow. Marrow examinations revealed increased hemosiderin, vacuolated pronormoblasts and promyelocytes, and ringed sideroblasts. Serum and erythrocyte folate levels were normal. The marrow findings coupled with the long history of heavy alcohol consumption and documented alcohol-associated thrombocytopenia on two separate occasions in one patient, in the absence of known marrow toxins, support the notion that the marrow hypocellularity was alcohol associated.