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CLINICAL STUDY/BIOMARKER: Phosphatidylethanol: normalization during detoxification, gender aspects and correlation with other biomarkers and self‐reports
Author(s) -
Wurst Friedrich Martin,
Thon Natasha,
Aradottir Steina,
Hartmann Susanne,
Wiesbeck Gerhard Adam,
Lesch Otto,
Skala Katrin,
Wolfersdorf Manfred,
Weinmann Wolfgang,
Alling Christer
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1111/j.1369-1600.2009.00185.x
Subject(s) - phosphatidylethanol , mean corpuscular volume , medicine , alcohol intake , metabolite , ethanol , carbohydrate deficient transferrin , biomarker , alcohol , alcohol consumption , endocrinology , gastroenterology , physiology , chemistry , biochemistry , phospholipid , membrane , phosphatidylcholine , hematocrit
Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct ethanol metabolite, and has recently attracted attention as biomarker of ethanol intake. The aims of the current study are: (1) to characterize the normalization time of PEth in larger samples than previously conducted; (2) to elucidate potential gender differences; and (3) to report the correlation of PEth with other biomarkers and self‐reported alcohol consumption. Fifty‐seven alcohol‐dependent patients (ICD 10 F 10.25; 9 females, 48 males) entering medical detoxification at three study sites were enrolled. The study sample was comprised of 48 males and 9 females, with mean age 43.5. Mean gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) was 209.61 U/l, average mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 97.35 fl, mean carbohydrate deficient transferrin (%CDT) was 8.68, and mean total ethanol intake in the last 7 days was 1653 g. PEth was measured in heparinized whole blood with a high‐pressure liquid chromatography method, while GGT, MCV and %CDT were measured using routine methods. PEth levels at day 1 of detoxification ranged between 0.63 and 26.95 µmol/l (6.22 mean, 4.70 median, SD 4.97). There were no false negatives at day 1. Sensitivities for the other biomarkers were 40.4% for MCV, 73.1% for GGT and 69.2% for %CDT, respectively. No gender differences were found for PEth levels at any time point. Our data suggest that PEth is (1) a suitable intermediate term marker of ethanol intake in both sexes; and (2) sensitivity is extraordinary high in alcohol dependent patients. The results add further evidence to the data that suggest that PEth has potential as a candidate for a sensitive and specific biomarker, which reflects longer‐lasting intake of higher amounts of alcohol and seemingly has the above mentioned certain advantages over traditional biomarkers.