Objectives: In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between macrocytosis and Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis (ALC) and its accuracy, sensitivity and specificity rates.

Material and Methods: Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) levels of 46 patients diagnosed as having ALC (Group 1) and 51 patients diagnosed as having Hepatitis B cirrhosis and Hepatitis C cirrhosis (Group 2) were compared retrospectively.

Results: MCV level determined as 94.6±10.87 in patients in Group 1 was statistically significantly higher than in patients in Group 2 (p<0.001). Macrocytosis was determined in 26 patients (56.52%) in Group 1 but in 3 patients (5.88%) in Group 2. When the cut-off value for MCV in the diagnosis of ALC was taken as 102 fl, its accuracy, sensitivity and specificity rates for the diagnosis were determined as 78%, 93% and 72% respectively. MCV levels of Child class C ALC patients (n=27) were determined statistically significantly higher than MCV levels of Child class A and Child class B ALC patients.

Conclusion: We concluded that MCV level is an important variable for the diagnosis of ALC but it is insufficient alone for the diagnosis; macrocytosis frequency increases in these patients and MCV levels increase as the prognosis worsens even without existence of anemia. ©2008, Firat University, Medical Faculty