[Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin as the marker of alcohol abuse].
The quantity of usual alcohol consumption is a fact that can be determined from the anamnesis of patients. In many cases patients do not inform their doctors in detail, in some cases they want to keep it a secret. The diagnosis of alcohol abuse based on objective data is a necessary requirement in clinical, insurance, as well as in forensic medicine. Among the different biomarkers of chronic alcohol abuse, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin is recognized world wide as the most reliable indicator. The authors review the pathomechanism of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in the human organism, the methods for its measurement and its role in the diagnostic procedures of alcohol induced clinical diseases, as well as its decisive role for life insurance and in forensic medicine.
Fehér
János
J
Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, II. Belgyógyászati Klinika, Budapest. feher@bel2.sote.hu
Lengyel
Gabriella
G
Szabó
György
G
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin