Prolonged urinary detection times of EtG and EtS in patients with decreased renal function.
BACKGROUND
The aims of this study were to investigate detection times for ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulphate (EtS) in urine samples of patients with decreased kidney function and to compare these with those previously reported for healthy volunteers.


METHODS
Fourteen patients were included, each delivering 10 urine samples after a nonsupervised intake of 0.1 to 1.4 g ethanol/kg body weight. The urinary detection times of EtG and EtS in these patients were adjusted for doses and compared to previously published healthy volunteers.


RESULTS
Detection times were significantly longer in patients with decreased renal function compared with healthy volunteers (p < 0.01 for both EtG and EtS).


CONCLUSIONS
Even after very minor alcohol intakes, these patients could fail alcohol tests based on the detection of conjugated ethanol metabolites for several days and wrongly be suspected of higher or more recent alcohol intakes than actually have found place.
Division of Forensic Toxicology and Drug Abuse, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. gudrun.hoiseth@fhi.no
Gudrun
G
Høiseth
Kristin
K
Nordal
Eirik
E
Pettersen
Jørg
J
Mørland
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000652:urine*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters / Q000652:urine*; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D005965:Glucuronates; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; C093924:ethyl glucuronide; D000431:Ethanol; C011612:diethyl sulfate