title: [Evaluation of the efficacy of naltrexone in alcoholism by the determination of serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin].
abstract: Naltrexone (NTX) has been shown to be a useful drug for the treatment of alcohol dependence (AD). Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in serum is a new biologic marker of alcohol abuse. To evaluate the efficacy of NTX (50 mg/d) in AD, a group of 20 alcoholics with CDT > 20 U/l was studied using monthly laboratory tests (CDT, ESR, AST, ALT, GGT) and specific psychological testing (CAGE). After the second month statistically significant differences in CDT levels were found. By the end of the study, 13 patients (responders) had normalized their CDT levels. There was no correlation between CDT values and the other laboratory markers. The difference in routine laboratory markers between responders and non responders was not significant. NTX was well tolerated by all the patients and significant alcohol abstinence was achieved. CDT was demonstrated to be a effective marker for the evaluation of alcoholic abstinence during treatment with NTX. Superior results were obtained in comparison with the routine customary markers for AD.
authors.affiliation: Hospital del Aire, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Arturo Sorial, Madrid.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinez Ruiz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Llobell Segui
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Peralba Vaño
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Toral Revuelta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013997:Time Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin; D009271:Naltrexone
vernacular_title: Evaluación de la eficacia de Naltrexona en la dependencia alcohólica mediante determinación sérica de transferrina deficiente en carbohidratos.