Rf. Anton et al., CARBOHYDRATE-DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN AS AN INDICATOR OF DRINKING STATUSDURING A TREATMENT OUTCOME STUDY, Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 20(5), 1996, pp. 841-846
Biological markers of alcohol consumption have been used in both clini
cal and research settings to aid in the identification of relapse drin
king. Although carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) has been shown
to be a sensitive and specific marker for the identification of heavy
drinkers, little data are available as to its utility as a marker for
relapse drinking during treatment, particularly in comparison with th
e more widely used serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). CDT and GGT
were measured in 35 male alcoholics before entering, and every 4 weeks
during, a 12-week outpatient treatment trial combining pharmacotherap
y and cognitive behavioral therapy. CDT and GGT were again measured 14
weeks after completion of treatment. During the 12-week treatment per
iod, CDT showed a significant difference in those individuals who abst
ained from drinking (30% decrease), compared with those who relapsed (
10% increase). GGT decreased on average in all individuals, and the ch
ange from treatment entry did not differ significantly across the drin
king outcome groups. The change in CDT, but not GGT, from study entry
to termination, significantly correlated with total alcohol consumptio
n during the trial. At the 14-week posttreatment, follow-up evaluation
CDT showed about a 60% elevation and GGT showed a 30% elevation, on a
verage, from study entry values in those individuals who had relapse d
rinking by self and/or collateral report. The change in both markers d
iffered between those individuals who remained abstinent or relapsed d
uring the poststudy period. In general, the change in CDT from pretrea
tment levels seemed more sensitive to drinking status during treatment
and follow-up than GGT. This indicates that CDT may be a more sensiti
ve marker for evaluating drinking status during both clinical and rese
arch treatment trials.