[Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and liver diseases. Study of 94 patients].

Abstract

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS:

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin has been proposed as a marker of alcohol consumption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the carbohydrate-deficient transferrin serum level, measured by ion exchange chromatography followed by radioimmunoassay (Kit CDTect), for the diagnosis of excessive alcohol intake in patients with liver diseases. Ninety-four patients (68 men, 26 women, age 21-71 years), 42 with alcoholic liver diseases and 52 with non-alcoholic liver diseases, were studied. Twenty-six patients consumed > or = 40 g alcohol per day (mean alcohol intake: 84 +/- 52 g per day) and were considered to be excessive drinkers.

RESULTS:

The sensitivity of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin for the diagnosis of excessive alcohol intake was 35%, and the specificity was 91%. By pairing carbohydrate-deficient transferrin with other markers of alcohol consumption, the sensitivity of the association of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase was 96%, and the specificity was 59%.

CONCLUSION:

In patients with liver diseases, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin is a specific marker of excessive alcohol intake but a lack of sensitivity may limit its use.

• Authors: F Ouyahya, Y Bacq, F Schellenberg, E H Metman, J Weill
• Journal: Gastroenterologie clinique et biologique (Gastroenterol Clin Biol) 1995 Aug-Sep Vol. 19 Issue 8-9 Pg. 698-702 ISSN: 0399-8320 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Transferrine déficiente en acide sialique et maladies du foie. Etude de 94 malades.
• PMID: 8522119 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• Transferrin
• carbohydrate-deficient transferrin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Alcoholism (diagnosis)
• Biomarkers (analysis)
• Chromatography, Ion Exchange
• Fatty Liver, Alcoholic (blood)
• Female
• Hepatitis (blood)
• Hepatitis, Alcoholic (blood)
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic (blood)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Radioimmunoassay
• Transferrin (analogs & derivatives, analysis)