Detection of relapses in alcohol dependent patients using serum carbohydrate deficient transferrin: improvement with individualized reference levels.
Alcohol dependent male outpatients were monitored for a period of six months. Indicators of alcohol consumption were compared using clinical information three times per week, serum levels of carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) weekly and urine samples of 5-hydroxytryptophol daily. Individualized reference values of CDT were calculated by using an increase of three times the lowest coefficient of variation in the group, which meant that an increase of < or = 30% from the lowest value of each individual was considered a significant increase, and therefore an indication of alcohol consumption. By this approach, it was possible to improve the ability to detect relapses in alcohol dependent patients using serum CDT once a week compared to CDT using reference values recommended by the manufacturer.
Borg
S
S
Karolinska Institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, St Göran's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Carlsson
A V
AV
Helander
A
A
Brandt
A M
AM
Beck
O
O
Stibler
H
H
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013695:Temperance; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin