Determinants of Erythrocyte Size in Chronic Liver Disease

Serial determinations of red cell volumes were made with an electronic sizing device in 30 patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Variations in red cell volumes were correlated with other hematologic and clinical findings. The results of these studies suggest that volume macrocytosis in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis is either due to megaloblastosis of the bone marrow or to an accelerated influx of young red cells into the peripheral blood.