[Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and liver diseases. Study of 94 patients].
OBJECTIVE
Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin has been proposed as a marker of alcohol consumption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the carbohydrate-deficient transferrin serum level, measured by ion exchange chromatography followed by radioimmunoassay (Kit CDTect), for the diagnosis of excessive alcohol intake in patients with liver diseases. Ninety-four patients (68 men, 26 women, age 21-71 years), 42 with alcoholic liver diseases and 52 with non-alcoholic liver diseases, were studied. Twenty-six patients consumed > or = 40 g alcohol per day (mean alcohol intake: 84 +/- 52 g per day) and were considered to be excessive drinkers.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin for the diagnosis of excessive alcohol intake was 35%, and the specificity was 91%. By pairing carbohydrate-deficient transferrin with other markers of alcohol consumption, the sensitivity of the association of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase was 96%, and the specificity was 59%.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with liver diseases, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin is a specific marker of excessive alcohol intake but a lack of sensitivity may limit its use.
Ouyahya
F
F
Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Trousseau, Tours.
Bacq
Y
Y
Schellenberg
F
F
Metman
E H
EH
Weill
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D005235:Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin
Transferrine déficiente en acide sialique et maladies du foie. Etude de 94 malades.