Oxidative stress and a thrombophilic condition in alcoholics without severe liver disease

Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Neurological Institute C. Mondino IRCCS, Department of Neurolgical Sciences, University of Pavia, via Palestro 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy. rtrotti@mail3.telnetwork.it BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The degree of oxidative stress and its association with a thrombophilic condition, if any, were investigated in alcoholics before the onset of severe liver disease. DESIGN AND METHODS: Reactive oxygen species and total antioxidant capacity were evaluated using two new kinetic spectrophotometric methods in a selected group of 45 consecutive chronic alcohol abusers and 42 apparently healthy moderate drinkers, used as controls. The hemostatic system was explored by detecting the plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) and thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT) with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, while D-dimer plasma levels were measured with a turbidimetric immunoassay. RESULTS: Reactive oxygen species were significantly higher (p