ABSTRACT
Background: Alcoholism is a broad form for problems with alcohol and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the determinant of drinker’s health, personal relationships and social standing. It is medically considered a disease, specifically an addictive illness. Alcohol has numerous adverse effects on the various types of blood cells and their functions. This study aimed to evaluate the hematological changes in alcoholic patients admitted in tertiary care hospital.Methods: The blood samples were collected from alcoholics admitted in a psychiatric and rehabilitation centre and the samples were processed in hematology laboratory in a tertiary care hospital. The hematological parameters (CBC) except ESR, were performed by using fully automated blood cell counters. The change in alcoholics was studied under two categories-social drinkers and problem drinkers. The results of these parameters were compared with age and sex matched normal population.Results: Total 200 cases included in which 110 were abstainers and 90 were alcoholics. Among alcoholics 67% were problem drinkers and 33% were social drinkers. The mean values of Hb, RBC and MCV in social drinkers were 11.1 g/dl, 3.1 million cells /μl and 100.5 fl, in problem drinkers were 9.8 g/dl, 2.89 million cells /μl and 105.5 fl, and in control population were 14.8 g/dl, 4.8 million cells / μl and 93 fl respectively.Conclusions: The study shown that parameters were changed in both social drinkers and problem drinkers. But predominant changes were observed in problem drinkers. The presence of elevated MCV and decreased RBC and Hb are suggestive of megaloblastic changes.