Insulin and catecholamine levels of the erythrocytes in chronic alcoholism

: Cytochemical techniques were applied to study the red blood cell contents of insulin and catecholamines in patients with chronic alcoholism. Both insulin and total catecholamines were sharply decreased in alcoholic patients as compared to normal non-drinker subjects, and the difference persisted despite 12 months of antialcoholic treatment. Insulin and catecholamine production by red blood cells had distinct peculiarities in patients with chronic alcoholism and concomitant liver disease.