[Effect of carnosine and its N-acetyl derivative on the stability of erythrocytes in patients with alcoholism during abstinence].

The effects of carnosine, a natural dipeptide, and its derivative, N- acetyl-carnosine (Ac-carnosine), on the stability and shape of red blood cells obtained from abstinent alcoholics was studied. In the presence of both carnosine and Ac-carnosine, the erythrocytes of abstinent alcoholics show a statistically significant increase in their ability to resist acidic hemolysis. Investigations of microscope pictures also show that carnosine and Ac-carnosine have beneficial effects on the pathological state of abstinent alcoholic erythrocytes. The addition of carnosine and Ac-carnosine resulted in the normalization of cell morphology (in 12 and 17 out of 30 cases, respectively). These results may be due to the stabilizing and regenerating ability of these compounds on alcoholic erythrocytes.