[Hematologic anomalies in alcoholic cirrhosis].

Alcoholic cirrhosis is frequently accompanied by hematologic abnormalities. The most commonly observed factors responsible for combined or isolated cytopenias are alcohol, malnutrition, hypersplenism and liver dysfunction. In addition to cytopenia, functional abnormalities, particularly of the leukocytes and of the platelets, have been described. In patients with hemorrhage the severity of the hemostatic defect is influenced not only by the number and function of the platelets, but also by a decrease in several coagulation factors synthesized by the liver and by an increased level of circulating fibrinolytic activators.