Pathological and Histomorphometric Study of the Effects of Alcohol on the Human Duodenum

Abstract

Duodenal biopsies from 47 alcoholic patients and 21 nonalcoholics were examined histologically and the number of chronic inflammatory (mononuclear) cells in the lamina propria and of villus goblet cells was calculated using a cell-counting technique. The number of mononuclear cells was the same in both groups. Goblet cell hyperplasia, gastric metaplasia and changes in the villi and epithelium were found almost exclusively in the alcoholics. Mononuclear cell counts were higher in patients from both groups showing concomitant chronic gastritis. Goblet cells were more numerous in older patients; mononuclear cells in nonalcoholics showed a slight increase with age. Correlation between endoscopy and histology gave equivocal results.

Gastroduodenal Morphology and Related Symptoms in Chronic Alcoholics

“…Usually duodenal and jejunal biopsies have showed normal histology, but a reduction in villus height in relation to [10]. This finding support holics (50%) had pathological scanning electron the few previous studies of alcohol effects on the microscopy: decreased glycocalyx layer and irreduodenal mucosa [2]. gularities in the microvilli.…”

“…Morphological alterations and functional disturbances in the upper gastrointestinal tract can also be related to alcohol abuse [1][2][3].…”

“…By dividing the as one of the main consequences of acute and alcohol group into pathological and normal chronic high alcohol intake [14]. The [2,15]. pepsia (ulcus suspect).…”

Effects of Ethanol on the Gastric Mucosa

“…Although conflicting results have been reported in man [9,10], it would seem that ethanol concentrations higher than 10% pro mote endoscopic and histological alterations of duodenal bulbar mucosa [9,11 ]. This is in keeping with recent observations that acute administration of 40% ethanol in humans results in endoscopic and histological areas of hemorrhage, congestion and erosions in the duodenal bulb [12],…”

Quantitative Histomorphometric Study of the Jejunal Mucosa in Chronic Alcoholics

“…Histolog ical appearance of duodenal biopsies ob tained during endoscopy in recently imbibing alcoholics was found to be normal [16] or to exhibit only minor abnormalities [14] Re ports on the histology of the jejunal mucosa following alcohol abuse in man vary greatly.…”