Influence of Gilbert's syndrome on the formation of ethyl glucuronide.

Abstract

A drinking experiment with participants suffering from Gilbert's syndrome was performed to study the possible influence of this glucuronidation disorder on the formation of ethyl glucuronide (EtG). Gilbert's syndrome is a rather common and, in most cases, asymptomatic congenital metabolic aberration with a prevalence of about 5 %. It is characterized by a reduction of the enzyme activity of the uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoform 1A1 up to 80 %. One of the glucuronidation products is EtG, which is formed in the organism following exposure to ethanol. EtG is used as a short-term marker for ethyl alcohol consumption to prove abstinence in various settings. After 2 days of abstinence from ethanol and giving a void urine sample, 30 study participants drank 0.1 L of sparkling wine (9 g ethanol). 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after drinking, urine samples were collected. 3 hours after drinking, an additional blood sample was taken, in which liver enzyme activities, ethanol, hematological parameters, and bilirubin were measured. EtG and ethyl sulfate (EtS), another short-term marker of ethanol consumption, were determined in the urine samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS); creatinine was measured photometrically. In all participants, EtG and EtS were detected in concentrations showing a wide range (EtG: 3 h sample 0.5-18.43 mg/L and 6 h sample 0.67-13.8 mg/L; EtS: 3 h sample 0.87-6.87 mg/L and 6 h sample 0.29-4.48 mg/L). No evidence of impaired EtG formation was found. Thus, EtG seems to be a suitable marker for ethanol consumption even in individuals with Gilbert's syndrome.

• Authors: Laura M Huppertz, Leonie Gunsilius, Christelle Lardi, Wolfgang Weinmann, Annette Thierauf-Emberger
• Journal: International journal of legal medicine (Int J Legal Med) Vol. 129 Issue 5 Pg. 1005-10 (Sep 2015) ISSN: 1437-1596 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 25680552 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Central Nervous System Depressants
• Glucuronates
• Sulfuric Acid Esters
• ethyl glucuronide
• Ethanol
• diethyl sulfate

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Alcohol Drinking
• Biomarkers (urine)
• Central Nervous System Depressants (blood, pharmacokinetics)
• Chromatography, Liquid
• Ethanol (blood, pharmacokinetics)
• Female
• Gilbert Disease (metabolism)
• Glucuronates (urine)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Sulfuric Acid Esters (urine)
• Tandem Mass Spectrometry
• Young Adult