title: The activity of beta-hexosaminidase (uHex) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (uGGT) in urine as non-invasive markers of chronic alcohol abuse: II. Opiate-dependent subjects receiving methadone substitution.
abstract: The usefulness of beta-hexosaminidase (uHex) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (uGGT) activity in urine as markers of chronic alcohol abuse was examined in male methadone programme participants. The group consisted of 24 non-abusing and 21 alcohol-abusing men. It has been demonstrated that the uHex test is one of the best alcohol abuse markers for opiate-dependent individuals (Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) 0.82, sensitivity 0.70, specificity 0.82). The uGGT test can be used as a marker of alcohol abuse in opiate-dependent men, however, its parameters are worse than those of uHex (ROC AUC 0.73, sensitivity 0.71, specificity 0.77). Among serum markers, only the relative amount of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (s%CDT) has parameters sufficient for diagnostic use (ROC AUC 0.74, sensitivity 0.60, specificity 0.86). Factors other than alcohol can render the commonly used sGGT and sHex tests useless (differences between means for abusing and abstinent patients were insignificant, AUC ROC were lower than 0.7-0.65 and 0.69, respectively). Their good parameters, low costs, ease of use and non-invasive character are all features which make uHex and uGGT highly useful tools in the detection of chronic alcohol abuse in opiate-dependent patients participating in a methadone substitution programme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 1/9 Sobieskiego Str., 02-957 Warsaw, Poland. habratb@ipin.edu.pl
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taracha
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Habrat
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chmielewska
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walkowiak
authors.forename: Bogdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szukalski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012372:ROC Curve; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000652:urine*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases; D008691:Methadone