O'Hanlon M, Salter S, Scull D, Labib M
Department of Psychiatry, Priority Unit, Dudley, West Midlands, UK.
Ann Clin Biochem. 1996 Nov;33 ( Pt 6):536-9. doi: 10.1177/000456329603300608.
Chronic alcohol exposure appears to suppress cell-mediated immunity which may contribute to the high incidence of infections among alcohol-dependent patients. We measured serum neopterin, as a marker of macrophage function and T-lymphocyte activation, in 26 alcohol-dependent patients. The mean serum neopterin in these patients was significantly lower than the mean serum neopterin in matched controls. In those who abstained, the mean serum neopterin at 3 weeks rose and was no longer significantly different from controls. Our findings suggest that alcohol-dependent patients have suppressed macrophage function which may be reversible within 3 weeks of abstention.
