Thrombocytopenia and alcohol – what is the connection?
A connection between thrombocytopenia and increased alcohol consumption can certainly be established. The red bone marrow, in which all blood cells are formed, is very sensitive to various toxic influences. These include the effects of radiation (e.g.B.
in case of radiotherapy) also chemotherapy or substances containing benzene. Likewise, an elevated blood level of alcohol over a longer period of time can have a toxic effect on the bone marrow and lead to a disturbed formation of thrombocytes, because alcohol is classified as a potential cell poison in a broader sense. During the implementation of chemo- or radiotherapy a strict alcohol restriction must therefore be observed.
Thrombocytopenia in HIV
In the case of HIV infection, HIV-associated thrombocytopenia can also occur. It is one of the most common pathological blood picture changes in HIV. In the absence of antiretroviral therapy, the frequency increases significantly with the duration of the infection.
HIV-associated thrombocytopenia is based on two mechanisms. On the one hand, there is an increased, immunologically induced breakdown of thrombocytes. On the other hand, platelet production in the bone marrow in the form of the precursor cell megakaryocytes is also reduced.
In most affected patients, bleeding initially occurs without complications, such as mucosal bleeding, ecchymosis, epistaxis (nosebleed) and gingival bleeding (gum bleeding). However, intracerebral and gastrointestinal bleeding (cerebral and gastrointestinal bleeding) may occur rather rarely. However, in this case the platelets must drop to values below 30.
000/μl. The HIV-associated thrombocytopenia is diagnostically distinguishable from ITP, for example, mainly by moderate splenomegaly and enlarged lymph nodes.
