title: [Role of the serum level of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase as marker of alcoholic intoxication in cirrhotic patients].
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of serum mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase activity (mAST) and of the mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase/total aspartate aminotransferase ratio (mAST/t AST) as markers of chronic alcoholism in cirrhotic patients. Sixty-three hospitalized cirrhotic patients (35 drinkers, 28 abstainers) were investigated. Ninety-six per cent of abstainers had normal values of mAST activity, while 89 per cent of drinkers had high levels of mAST activity. Cirrhotic patients were better divided into drinkers and abstainers by mAST activity (92 per cent) than by mean globular corpuscular volume (MCV) (81 per cent, NS) or by gamma-glutamyltransferase activity (GGT) (75 per cent, P less than 0.01). When the hospital costs of these markers were taken into account, MCV had a better "quality/price" ratio (Q/P) defined as diagnostic value/mean hospital cost (Q/P = 2.5) than MCV plus GGT (diagnostic value 61 per cent, Q/P = 1.2). The measurement of mAST activity in patients with high MCV value or with discrepancy between MCV and GGT values increased the diagnostic value of the other laboratory measurement to 89 per cent, but at a higher cost (Q/P = 0.8). Mitochondrial AST activity is a sensitive and specific marker of chronic alcoholism in cirrhotic patients. However, owing to its high cost, it should be proposed as a second marker after MCV and GGT.
authors.affiliation: Service des Maladies du foie et de l'appareil digestif, Hôpital Bicêtre.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ink
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boutron
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hanny
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goenner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buffet
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases
vernacular_title: Place du taux sérique de l'aspartate aminotransférase mitochondriale comme marqueur d'intoxication chez le cirrhotique alcoolique.