title: Use of capillary zone electrophoresis for differentiating excessive from moderate alcohol consumption.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The poorly sialylated transferrin isoforms in serum were analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) to differentiate moderate from heavy alcohol consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 614 volunteers, classified after interviews, self-reported drinking habits, and AUDIT scores as alcohol abusers (consuming >50 g/day ethanol for the previous 3 months or longer; n = 413) or moderate drinkers (<30 g/day ethanol; n = 201). Serum transferrin isoforms were separated at 28 kV and monitored at 214 nm on a P/ACE 5500 CZE with use of fused-silica capillaries and the related CEofix CDT reagent set. Immunosubtraction by anti-human transferrin and electrophoretic migration times identified the isoforms. Previous markers of alcohol abuse and an assay combining anion-exchange minicolumn chromatography with immunoturbidimetry (%CDT) were included in the study. Sensitivities and specificities were compared by ROC analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The asialylated isoform was missing in 95% of moderate drinkers but present in 92% of alcohol misusers. Disialotransferrin had a specificity and sensitivity of 0.75 at a cutoff of 0.7% of total transferrin, whereas the sum (asialo- + disialotransferrin) at a threshold of 1.2% had a sensitivity of 0.73 and a specificity of 0.92. Trisialotransferrin values did not distinguish between the two populations. Sensitivities and specificities of %CDT averaged 0.77 and 0.74, respectively, at a 2.6% cutoff; 0.67 and 0.83 at 2.8%; and 0.63 and 0.90 at 3%. CDT data were more sensitive and specific for males. Conventional biomarkers appeared less discriminating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asialotransferrin detected by CZE in sera of alcohol abusers offers the highest discrimination between excessive and moderate drinking.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles and CHU André Vésale, 706 route de Gozée, 6110 Montigny-le-Tilleul, Belgium. franz.legros@chu-charleroi.be
authors.forename: Franz J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Legros
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nuyens
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baudoux
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zouaoui Boudjeltia
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ruelle
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Colicis
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cantraine
authors.forename: Jean-Pol
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Henry
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001212:Asialoglycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012372:ROC Curve; D012737:Sex Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001212:Asialoglycoproteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D014168:Transferrin; C017031:asialotransferrins