[The diagnostic validity of screening tests and laboratory markers in alcohol use disorders].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the validity of screening tests and markers suggested in the early detection of alcohol use disorders.


METHODS
Male patients aged 20-65 were recruited from a psychiatry clinic. They had been consuming alcohol at least once a week. They were not drug users and had no other diseases that affected the markers mentioned in this study. According to the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, the diagnostic validity of screening tests [Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), CAGE (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)] and markers [Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT)] was investigated in alcohol dependent patients (n=29), alcohol abusers (n=28) and social drinkers (n=28).


RESULTS
For the diagnosis of dependence, the sensitivity and specificity of the tests were respectively 69% and 100% for GGT, 41% and 93% for CDT, 100% and 57% for MAST, 97% and 86% for CAGE, and 100% and 75% for AUDIT. For the diagnosis of abuse, the sensitivity and specificity of the tests were respectively 32% and 100% for GGT, 32% and 93% for CDT, 86% and 57% for MAST, 75% and 85.7% for CAGE, and 89% and 75% for AUDIT. The widest area under the ROC curve belonged to GGT as a marker and AUDIT as a screening test.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the results of this study, the marker that has the highest validity is GGT, while AUDIT and CAGE are the best screening tests.
Gül
Selami
S
Izmir Suat Seren Göğüs Hastaliklari ve Cerrahisi Eğitim ve Araştirma Hastanesi Psikiytri Kl., Izmir.
Akvardar
Yildiz
Y
Taş
Gültekin
G
Tuncel
Pinar
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase