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Detection of Relapses in Alcohol‐Dependent Patients: Comparison of Carbohydrate‐Deficient Transferrin in Serum, 5‐Hydroxytryptophol in Urine, and Self‐Reports
Author(s) -
Carlsson A. Voltaire,
Hiltunen A. J.,
Beck O.,
Stibler H.,
Borg S.
Publication year - 1993
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/j.1530-0277.1993.tb00823.x
Subject(s) - carbohydrate deficient transferrin , alcohol , urine , medicine , creatinine , transferrin , urinary system , alcohol consumption , gastroenterology , chemistry , biochemistry
In this study, detection of relapses in male alcohol‐dependent patients by biochemical markers and self‐reports of alcohol consumption were examined. The patients were trying to stay abstinent from alcohol for 6 months. Four of 15 patients dropped out from treatment after 50–110 days. Ratios of urinary 5‐hydroxytryptophol (S‐HTOL)/5‐hydroxyindole‐3‐acetic acid and 5‐HTOL/creatinine were measured daily and serum carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin (CDT) once a week. Clinical ratings and self‐reports about alcohol consumption were performed three times a week. According to the self‐reports, 3 of the patients drank alcohol frequently, 5 of them sporadically, and 7 of the patients reported no alcohol intake at all. According to the 5‐HTOL marker, 4 of the patients drank alcohol frequently, and 11 of them sporadically. No one had all urinary levels of 5‐HTOL marker below the reference level. According to the CDT, 3 of the patients drank alcohol frequently, 3 sporadically, and in 9 of the patients no elevated levels of CDT were found. Elevated levels of CDT were preceded by increased values of 5‐HTOL marker. The combined results suggested that no one of the patients was totally abstinent from alcohol during the treatment period. The 5‐HTOL marker seemed to be useful to reveal recent alcohol drinking, and CDT proved to be useful to validate the patients' self‐reports. Together the two biochemical markers showed complementary properties in early detection of relapse and treatment monitoring.