[Usefulness of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in the assessment of abuse and abstinence in chronic alcoholism].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the utility of carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) for the chronic alcoholism diagnostic, the recent intake and the abstinence, comparing it with the most recognized biological markers, specially the MCV and the GGT.


METHODS
We study 87 subjects: 22 controls, 42 subjects abstinent chronic alcoholics and 23 patient active alcoholics. From the last group we subject the middle to a 15 days abstinence period. We compare the CDT with the mos recognized markers in the difference groups.


RESULTS
We found significant difference with MCV and GGT in the chronic alcoholism diagnostic. There were significant difference with MCV, GGT and specially CDT in the case of recent alcoholic intake. CDT was the only one that shows significant difference in recent abstinence.


CONCLUSIONS
According to our results the CDT is a poor marker of chronic alcoholism. The classical markers (MCV nd GGT) are better on tha propriety. CDT, however, is a valid and effective marker for the recent alcohol intake, it is better than GGT and MCV. And it is the only valid marker for the recent abstinence. So, we estimate that, it would be advisable the CDT clinical use with restringed criterions for the recent alcoholic intake diagnostics and, specially for the abstinence one.
Avivar Falcón
I
I
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Patología Alcohólica, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla.
Rubio Rubio
J M
JM
Leal Luna
A
A
González Vilches
J
J
del Trigo Espinosa
M A
MA
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013695:Temperance; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin