title: Frequencies of glyoxalase I phenotypes as biological markers in chronic alcoholism.
abstract: Biological markers for alcoholism would be a valuable tool for early diagnosis. We have studied the phenotype frequencies of genetically determined erythrocyte enzymes in 397 alcoholics, including two populations with liver disease: steatosis (n = 86) and cirrhosis (n = 128) and a population of alcoholics without apparent liver disease (n = 183) compared to a well selected control population (n = 177). Only for Glyoxalase I (GLO) phenotypes (1,2 and 2-1) were significant differences found between the male controls and the male alcoholics. In the total male alcoholic population the frequency of phenotype 1 was significantly increased (23.2% vs. 11%, p less than 0.02), and the frequency of phenotype 2 was significantly decreased (32.3% vs. 46.3 p less than 0.02) compared to the male control population. For normal women the frequency of phenotype 1 and 2 was significantly different from normal men. (1: +177% p less than 0.001, 2: -45% p less than 0.01), but no significant differences were found between alcoholic and normal women. Our results suggest that in male subjects Glyoxalase I phenotype 1 may provide a marker for predisposition to alcoholism.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ledig
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doffoel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ziessel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charrault
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tongio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bockel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mandel
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D007791:Lactoylglutathione Lyase / Q000235:genetics*; D008190:Lyases / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008190:Lyases; D007791:Lactoylglutathione Lyase