Haematological Changes in Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders- An Overview

Abstract

to the nervous system and internal organs. Moreover, illicit drug uses are commonly linked with aplastic anaemia, bone marrow repression and variety of systemic disorders [3]. Hence, early diagnosis of these disorders and identification of the complications they result in is important. Haematology is the branch of medicine that deals with blood, blood-forming organs and blood disorders. This article summarizes current information on the haematological changes that are observed in different substance use disorders and the utility of these changes in clinical assessment. Overview of Substances Alcohol Alcohol is the most commonly used worldwide. Alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of death. Chronic alcohol intake can interfere with various physiological, biochemical and metabolic processes of the blood cells and affect multiple organ systems. Alcohol use, especially in heavy drinkers, can cause different metabolic derangements. Haematological adverse effects of acute and chronic alcohol use result from both direct and indirect effects [4,5]. The direct consequences include toxicity to the blood-forming organs (viz. bone marrow); the blood cell precursors; and the mature Red Blood Cells (RBC's), White Blood Cells (WBC's), and platelets, resulting in fewer than-normal or non-functional mature blood cells. Alcohol's indirect effects include metabolic or physiological alterations resulting in liver disease and nutritional deficiencies such as folate deficiencies that

Evaluation of the immune system status and hematological dyscrasias, among amphetamine and cannabis abusers at Eradah Hospital in Qassim, Saudi Arabia

“…In contrast, cannabis abuse has been shown to have minimal effects on blood indices. Some studies have reported slight decreases in RBC count and hemoglobin levels, but these changes are usually within the normal range and not clinically significant 4 , 5 , 20 . Our results are consistent with these studies showing the possible negative consequences of drug misuse on immunity.…”

“…There are direct hematological adverse effects of acute and chronic drug abuse, including toxic effects on bone marrow or other blood-forming organs, leading to lower-than-normal or malfunctioning blood cells. Indirect effects may lead to alterations in metabolic and/or physiological functions, which determine liver and kidney diseases, and nutritional deficiencies, that affect the function of various blood cells 19 , 20 .…”

Association of alcohol use and dietary lifestyle of commercial drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria

“…An earlier study by Harrison-Findik (Harrison-Findik 2007 ) found that iron stores increased progressively across classes of alcohol intake in heavy drinkers and people with AUD. Even in volunteers, drinking small amounts of alcohol compared with teetotalers, there was a significant increase in indices of iron stores, such as ferritin (Raka et al 2020 ).…”