title: Evaluation of mAST/tAST ratio as a marker of alcohol misuse in a non-selected population.
abstract: Serum mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (mAST) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activities were measured in 303 outpatients upon visits to their general practitioner. Alcohol consumption was evaluated by interview, using a standard questionnaire. Thirty-four patients drank more than 80 g of alcohol per day but none complained of an alcohol-related disease. These 34 heavy drinkers presented a mean serum mAST value which was significantly higher than that of the 269 normal drinkers; however, only 14 out of the 34 (41%) exhibited an increased mAST value. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive positive value of the mAST/tAST ratio were 0.29, 0.77 and 0.13, respectively; the corresponding figures for GGT were 0.5, 0.81 and 0.23, respectively. These results are in sharp contrast with those obtained for mAST activity in a population of hospitalized alcoholics. The explanation may lie in differences in alcohol consumption, in nutritional status and in the frequency of alcohol-related diseases in inpatients as compared to outpatients.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'Hépatologie, INSERM U-99, Hôpital Laënnec, Paris, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nalpas
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Poupon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vassault
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hauzanneau
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sage
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schellenberg
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lacour
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berthelot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases