Premium
Objective Diagnosis of Alcohol Abuse: Compared Values of Carbohydrate‐Deficient Transferrin (CDT), γ‐Glutamyl Transferase (GGT), and Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV)
Author(s) -
Reynaud Michel,
Schellenberg François,
LoisequxMeunier MarieNadia,
Schwan Raymund,
Maradeix Bertrand,
Planche François,
Gillet Claudine
Publication year - 2000
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.1530-0277.2000.tb02111.x
Subject(s) - carbohydrate deficient transferrin , mean corpuscular volume , alcohol abuse , transferrin , alcohol , medicine , predictive value , gastroenterology , gamma glutamyltransferase , psychology , psychiatry , chemistry , biochemistry , alcohol consumption , enzyme , hematocrit
Background: Alcohol abuse is roughly twice as common as alcohol dependence. Subjects with alcohol problems are usually diagnosed only when medical complications are present. Therefore, both doctors and patients need a method for early diagnosis of alcohol abuse. Methods: The mean corpuscular volume, γ‐glutamyl transferase, and carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin in alcohol abusers, alcohol‐dependent patients, and “nonalcohol hospital” individuals were compared. Results: For objective diagnosis of alcohol abuse, we found a sensitivity of 24%, a specificity of 96%, and a global predictive value of 63% for mean corpuscular volume; a sensitivity of 42%, a specificity of 76%, and a global predictive value of 61% for γ‐glutamyl transferase; and a sensitivity of 67%, a specificity of 97%, and a global predictive value of 84% for carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin. Conclusions: Carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin proves to be the best marker of alcohol abuse. It allows objective detection so that therapeutic action can be started early, which is easier and more effective than in alcohol dependence.