title: Characterization of sialic acid index of plasma apolipoprotein J and phosphatidylethanol during alcohol detoxification--a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) is a component of plasma high-density lipoproteins. Previous studies have shown progressive recovery of ApoJ sialic acid content with increased duration of alcohol abstinence. Therefore, the sialic acid index of plasma apolipoprotein J (SIJ) seems to be a promising alcohol biomarker. Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct ethanol metabolite and has recently attracted attention as a biomarker of prolonged intake of higher amounts of alcohol. The aim of the pilot study was to explore sensitivity, specificity, and normalization of SIJ and PEth in comparison with traditional and emerging biomarkers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five male alcohol-dependent patients (International Classification of Diseases 10, F 10.25) were included (median: 40 years old; Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test value, 30; alcohol consumption in the previous 7 days, 1,680 g). SIJ, PEth, urinary ethyl glucuronide (UEtG), urinary ethyl sulfate (UEtS), and gamma glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) were determined at days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At study entry, SIJ, PEth, UEtG, and UEtS were positive in all subjects, whereas GGT and mean corpuscular volume were positive in 3 of 5 (60%) of the subjects. Individual SIJ levels increased between day 1 and 28 between 13.7 and 44.3%, respectively. For SIJ and PEth, the ANOVA (p < 0.005) showed a significant trend with the average subject's SIJ and PEth changing 1.22 and 1.02, respectively, per week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary data suggest that SIJ and PEth might hold potential as markers of heavy ethanol intake.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Christian Doppler Clinic, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. f.wurst@salk.at
authors.forename: Friedrich M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Wurst
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thon
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weinmann
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tippetts
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alling
authors.forename: Steina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aradottir
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lakshman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015415:Biomarkers; D051152:Clusterin / Q000097:blood*; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000652:urine; D020404:Glycerophospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters / Q000652:urine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D051152:Clusterin; D005965:Glucuronates; D020404:Glycerophospholipids; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; C051521:phosphatidylethanol; C093924:ethyl glucuronide; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; C011612:diethyl sulfate