Cerebral blood flow velocity and erythrocyte deformability in heavy alcohol drinkers at the acute stage and two weeks after withdrawal

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to measure changes in blood flow velocity (Vmean) and erythrocyte deformability (ED) in heavy alcohol drinkers after withdrawal and the relationship between them.MethodsThe subjects were 32 heavy alcohol drinkers, mean age 47 years (22 men and 10 women). Vmean was determined by a transcranial 2 MHz pulsed Doppler probe. ED was estimated by the method of cation-osmotic haemolysis (COH). The results were compared with those for 20 healthy volunteers.ResultsThe study revealed a significant decrease in Vmean and ED after admission. Vmean in the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) was 45.1 ± 10.2 cm/s as compared with 59.1 ± 7.5 cm/s in controls; in the right MCA, it was 46.8 ± 11.3 cm/s as compared with 59.0 ± 7.6 cm/s in controls (p < 0.001 in each case). But while Vmean was significantly increased after 14 days withdrawal (54.4 ± 10.4 cm/s in the left MCA, p < 0.001, and 54.3 ± 12.1 cm/s in the right MCA, p < 0.01), ED showed only small change. A significant difference between Vmean in men and women was found.ConclusionThe changes in Vmean after withdrawal are more influenced by plasma composition than by changes in ED.