title: Phosphatidylethanol: normalization during detoxification, gender aspects and correlation with other biomarkers and self-reports.
abstract: Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct ethanol metabolite, and has recently attracted attention as biomarker of ethanol intake. The aims of the current study are: (1) to characterize the normalization time of PEth in larger samples than previously conducted; (2) to elucidate potential gender differences; and (3) to report the correlation of PEth with other biomarkers and self-reported alcohol consumption. Fifty-seven alcohol-dependent patients (ICD 10 F 10.25; 9 females, 48 males) entering medical detoxification at three study sites were enrolled. The study sample was comprised of 48 males and 9 females, with mean age 43.5. Mean gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) was 209.61 U/l, average mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was 97.35 fl, mean carbohydrate deficient transferrin (%CDT) was 8.68, and mean total ethanol intake in the last 7 days was 1653 g. PEth was measured in heparinized whole blood with a high-pressure liquid chromatography method, while GGT, MCV and %CDT were measured using routine methods. PEth levels at day 1 of detoxification ranged between 0.63 and 26.95 micromol/l (6.22 mean, 4.70 median, SD 4.97). There were no false negatives at day 1. Sensitivities for the other biomarkers were 40.4% for MCV, 73.1% for GGT and 69.2% for %CDT, respectively. No gender differences were found for PEth levels at any time point. Our data suggest that PEth is (1) a suitable intermediate term marker of ethanol intake in both sexes; and (2) sensitivity is extraordinary high in alcohol dependent patients. The results add further evidence to the data that suggest that PEth has potential as a candidate for a sensitive and specific biomarker, which reflects longer-lasting intake of higher amounts of alcohol and seemingly has the above mentioned certain advantages over traditional biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Christian Doppler Clinic, Paracelsus Medical University, Ignaz-Harrer-Strasse 79, Salzburg, Austria. f.wurst@salk.at
authors.forename: Friedrich Martin
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Wurst
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thon
authors.forename: Steina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aradottir
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Gerhard Adam
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wiesbeck
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lesch
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skala
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolfersdorf
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weinmann
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D020404:Glycerophospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012737:Sex Factors; D014168:Transferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020404:Glycerophospholipids; D014168:Transferrin; C056759:carbohydrate-deficient transferrin; C051521:phosphatidylethanol; D000431:Ethanol; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase