title: [The sensitivity of clinico-chemical markers of alcoholism following short-term motivated alcohol abstinence].
abstract: The liver enzymes GGT, GOT and GPT, as well as MCV, of 40 alcoholics were examined. They had presented at the psychiatric department of the University for withdrawal therapy. All of them had consumed alcohol up to the time of admission. The laboratory values were obtained on admission, then at weekly intervals for a period of 5 weeks, under total alcohol abstinence. GGT (85 per cent) and MCV (95 per cent) demonstrated a high sensitivity relating to alcohol abuse. While the raised GGT values reduced gradually, the MCV values remained consistently high even after strict withholding of alcohol. The sensitivity of MCV was not impaired by the previous substitutions of vitamin B complex. At the beginning GOT and GPT were elevated in only about half the number of cases and quickly became normal. Because of the more rapid lowering of the GOT activities, compared to the GPT activities, the De Ritis quotient sank to below 1 even after only one week. To demonstrate the clinical chemical evidence of the appraisement more clearly, the MCV as well as liver enzymes, must be taken into account. In general there was a decline in the diagnostic value of the laboratory results, the longer the period of alcohol abstinence lasted. Therefore, it is recommended not to set a long term time limit for examination, to favour the motivated total abstinence periods.
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Haffner
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
vernacular_title: Zur Sensitivität klinisch-chemischer Marker des Alkoholismus nach kurzfristiger anlassbezogener Alkoholkarenz.