Biomaterial Database

Prediction of alcohol-related harm by laboratory test results. 1993

K M Conigrave, and J B Saunders, and R B Reznik, and J B Whitfield

Centre for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

We examined the value of laboratory markers of excessive alcohol (ethanol) intake as predictors of mortality, morbidity, and health-care utilization in a cohort of 330 patients attending an acute ambulatory care service. Among men, all four markers examined--gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV)--were predictive of medical sequelae and health-care utilization over a 3-year period. In contrast, social problems were more closely related to the amount of alcohol consumption at initial assessment than to any biological marker. Serum GGT and AST activities and MCV were predictive of medical sequelae in women. The predictive value of GGT was an independent risk factor and did not merely reflect recent alcohol intake or the presence of chronic liver disease. We conclude that these readily available laboratory tests provide important prognostic information and should be an integral part of the assessment of persons with hazardous alcohol consumption.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006973	Hypertension	Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more.	Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D008076	Cholesterol, HDL	Cholesterol which is contained in or bound to high-density lipoproteins (HDL), including CHOLESTEROL ESTERS and free cholesterol.	High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol,Cholesterol, HDL2,Cholesterol, HDL3,HDL Cholesterol,HDL(2) Cholesterol,HDL(3) Cholesterol,HDL2 Cholesterol,HDL3 Cholesterol,alpha-Lipoprotein Cholesterol,Cholesterol, alpha-Lipoprotein,alpha Lipoprotein Cholesterol
D008107	Liver Diseases	Pathological processes of the LIVER.	Liver Dysfunction,Disease, Liver,Diseases, Liver,Dysfunction, Liver,Dysfunctions, Liver,Liver Disease,Liver Dysfunctions
D008297	Male		Males
D011379	Prognosis	A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations.	Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D004909	Erythrocyte Indices	ERYTHROCYTE size and HEMOGLOBIN content or concentration, usually derived from ERYTHROCYTE COUNT; BLOOD hemoglobin concentration; and HEMATOCRIT. The indices include the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC).	Erythrocyte Hemoglobin, Mean Cell,Erythrocyte Size Determination,Erythrocyte Volume, Mean Cell,Hemoglobin, Erythrocyte, Mean Cell,Mean Corpuscular Volume,Red Cell Indices,Erythrocyte Diameter,Erythrocyte Index,Erythrocyte Indexes,Erythrocyte Thickness,Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration,Mean Cell Volume,Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin,Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobulin Concentration,Red Cell Distribution Width,Red Cell Index,Red Cell Indexes,Cell Volumes, Mean,Corpuscular Volumes, Mean,Determination, Erythrocyte Size,Determinations, Erythrocyte Size,Diameter, Erythrocyte,Diameters, Erythrocyte,Erythrocyte Diameters,Erythrocyte Size Determinations,Hemoglobin, Mean Corpuscular,Hemoglobins, Mean Corpuscular,Index, Erythrocyte,Index, Red Cell,Indexes, Erythrocyte,Indexes, Red Cell,Indices, Erythrocyte,Indices, Red Cell,Mean Cell Volumes,Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobins,Mean Corpuscular Volumes,Size Determination, Erythrocyte,Size Determinations, Erythrocyte,Thickness, Erythrocyte,Volume, Mean Cell,Volume, Mean Corpuscular,Volumes, Mean Cell,Volumes, Mean Corpuscular
D005260	Female		Females
D005723	gamma-Glutamyltransferase	An enzyme, sometimes called GGT, with a key role in the synthesis and degradation of GLUTATHIONE; (GSH, a tripeptide that protects cells from many toxins). It catalyzes the transfer of the gamma-glutamyl moiety to an acceptor amino acid.	GGTP,Glutamyl Transpeptidase,gammaglutamyltransferase,gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase,Transpeptidase, Glutamyl,Transpeptidase, gamma-Glutamyl,gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase,gamma Glutamyltransferase
D006471	Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage	Bleeding in any segment of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT from ESOPHAGUS to RECTUM.	Hematochezia,Hemorrhage, Gastrointestinal,Gastrointestinal Hemorrhages,Hematochezias
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man