Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin is not a useful marker for the detection of chronic alcohol abuse. 1998

U M Schmitt, and P Stieber, and D Jüngst, and M Bilzer, and M Wächtler, and S Heberger, and D Seidel
Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany. Stieber@klch.med.uni-muenchen.de

BACKGROUND The role of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) as a reliable marker for the detection of chronic alcohol abuse has been discussed controversially. METHODS Therefore, we investigated CDT in the sera from 405 subjects with different alcohol intake. Besides healthy control subjects (n = 42), inpatients and outpatients in a department of gastroenterology (n = 325) and patients admitted to a department of otorhinolaryngology (n = 38) were studied. A total of 213 patients suffered from various forms of liver diseases, and 89 patients had liver transplantation. CDT values were determined by a double-antibody radioimmunoassay. RESULTS In the 241 alcohol-abstinent subjects, CDT levels ranged from 3 to 90 units L-1 (median = 12); the 92 moderate drinkers (20-60 g of alcohol per day) showed values from 3 to 40 units L-1 (median = 12), and the 72 subjects with chronic alcohol abuse (> 60 g per day) revealed CDT levels from 3 to 100 units L-1 (median = 16). The diagnostic specificity for alcohol abuse was 86.8% for men (sensitivity 36.9%) and 95% for women (sensitivity 0%). CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that measurement of CDT does not reach clinical use in the detection of chronic alcohol abuse in an unselected population because of its insufficient specificity and sensitivity.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D011863 Radioimmunoassay Classic quantitative assay for detection of antigen-antibody reactions using a radioactively labeled substance (radioligand) either directly or indirectly to measure the binding of the unlabeled substance to a specific antibody or other receptor system. Non-immunogenic substances (e.g., haptens) can be measured if coupled to larger carrier proteins (e.g., bovine gamma-globulin or human serum albumin) capable of inducing antibody formation. Radioimmunoassays
D002908 Chronic Disease Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2). Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
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
D005355 Fibrosis Any pathological condition where fibrous connective tissue invades any organ, usually as a consequence of inflammation or other injury. Cirrhosis,Fibroses
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
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
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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