Premium
Phosphatidylethanol as Blood Biomarker of Alcohol Consumption in Early Pregnancy: An Observational Study in 4,067 Pregnant Women
Author(s) -
Finanger Trine,
Spigset Olav,
Gråwe Rolf W.,
Andreassen Trine N.,
Løkken Trine N.,
Aamo Trond O.,
Bratt Guro E.,
Tømmervik Kristin,
Langaas Vibeke S.,
Finserås Kristin,
Salvesen Kjell Å.B.,
Skråstad Ragnhild B.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.14577
Subject(s) - phosphatidylethanol , medicine , obstetrics , pregnancy , biomarker , population , alcohol consumption , alcohol , ethyl glucuronide , gynecology , environmental health , biology , phospholipid , biochemistry , genetics , membrane , phosphatidylcholine
Background The teratogenic effects of alcohol are well documented, but there is a lack of screening methods to detect alcohol use during pregnancy. Phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1 (PEth) is a specific and sensitive biomarker reflecting alcohol intake up to several weeks after consumption. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of positive PEth values as an indicator of early prenatal alcohol exposure in a general population of pregnant women. Methods Rhesus typing is routinely performed in Norway in all pregnancies around gestational week 12. Rhesus‐negative women have an additional test taken around week 24. Blood samples submitted to St. Olav University Hospital in Trøndelag, Norway, for Rhesus typing during the period September 2017 to October 2018 were collected. A total of 4,533 whole blood samples from 4,067 women were analyzed for PEth (limit of quantification of 0.003 µM). Results Fifty‐eight women had a positive PEth sample. Of these, 50 women were positive around gestational week 12, 3 women were positive around week 24, and in 5 cases, the timing was unknown. There were no significant differences in proportions of women with positive PEth values related to age, or rural versus urban residency. Conclusion In an unselected pregnant population in Norway, 1.4% had a positive PEth sample around gestational week 12, whereas 0.4% had a positive sample around week 24. The use of PEth as an alcohol biomarker should be further investigated as a diagnostic tool in the antenatal setting.