title: Biological markers of alcoholism.
abstract: The roles of two categories of biological markers--those relating to alcohol consumption and those relating to the risk of developing alcohol related problems--are reviewed. Platelet Mono-amino oxidase levels are low in individuals with a strong inheritance of their drinking problem (Cloninger Type II alcoholics). Elevated gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels identify regular heavy drinkers with a sensitivity between 40-60%. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) has a high specificity (95%) and is useful in detecting regular heavy drinkers in the ambulatory care population if other causes of an elevated MCV can be included.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Whelan
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000097:blood; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001810:Blood Volume; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D011388:Prolactin; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases