Ethanol-induced microaggregate formation in pig and rabbit blood. An in vitro study.

Increased microaggregate formation was found after mixing ethanol with blood from pig and rabbit in vitro, measured with Swank's Screen Filtration pressure method. Final ethanol concentrations were in the range found in ethanol-intoxication in man. No rise in SFP was noticed when plasma with 10,000 platelets/microliter was used. It is therefore doubtful that altered plasma proteins caused the rise in SFP. It is suggested that if a direct effect of ethanol upon platelet aggregation exists in vivo, it may be of importance in acute ethanol intoxication and in chronic alcoholism.