Multicenter validation study of the %CDT TIA kit in alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence.
BACKGROUND
Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) are used as biomarkers of alcohol misuse. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in terms of sensitivity and specificity, the performance of the new Bio-Rad %CDT TIA kit and GGT assay for identifying alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence (according to the DSM-IV criteria).


METHODS
An open multicenter study (30 centers) over 3 months, including patient groups of "abusers," "dependents," and controls, was conducted in France.


RESULTS
In alcohol abuse, the sensitivity of GGT was 0.56, and that of CDT was 0.80; in alcohol dependence, the sensitivity of GGT was 0.86, and that of CDT was 0.91. The specificity of GGT was 0.77, and that of CDT was 0.83. The association of GGT with CDT increased sensitivity for alcohol abuse to 0.90 and for alcohol dependence to 0.99, but it appreciably decreased specificity (0.63).


CONCLUSIONS
%CDT is the better screening marker for alcohol abuse and dependence, but GGT is still a useful marker for the detection of alcohol dependence. As an assay method, the second-generation Bio-Rad %CDT immunoassay can be recommended for routine CDT measurement.
Schwan
Raymund
R
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France. rschwan@chu-clermontferrand.fr
Loiseaux
Marie-Nadia
MN
Schellenberg
François
F
Albuisson
Eliane
E
Favre
Jean-Dominique
JD
Rigaud
Alain
A
Llorca
Pierre-Michel
PM
Gillet
Claudine
C
Reynaud
Michel
M
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase