The hemogram and the diagnosis of alcoholism.

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Abstract
Hemograms of 50 alcoholic inpatients (38 men) were compared with those of 50 matched psychiatric patients. Alcoholics had significantly higher mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and Hb (MCH) and lower red blood cell count (RBC) than did controls. The incidence of raised MCV, raised MCH and lowered RBC, singly or combined, was significantly greater in alcoholics and was not accounted for by low folate or cyanocobalamin, physical diseases, malnutrition, liver damage or other conditions which cause macrocytic anemia. Though none of the hematological variables would have constituted an efficient screening test for alcoholics, it is suggested that a pattern of high MCV, with or without high MCH, and low RBC was almost completely specific for alcoholism.

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