INCREASES AND TIME-COURSE VARIATIONS IN BETA-HEXOSAMINIDASE ISOENZYME-B AND CARBOHYDRATE-DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN IN SERUM FROM ALCOHOLICS ARESIMILAR

beta-Hexosaminidase B-isoforms (beta-hexosaminidase B, P, and intermed iate forms; abbreviated herein as ''Hex B'') and serum carbohydrate-de ficient transferrin (CDT) are two markers of alcohol abuse. In the pre sent study, we have compared ''Hex B'' with CDT as markers of alcohol abuse in a group of alcoholics hospitalized for detoxification after a period of heavy alcohol abuse. We have also followed the disappearanc e rate of these two markers from circulation, ''Hex B'' was elevated i n 38 of 42 patients hospitalized for detoxication, whereas CDT was ele vated in 35 of 42 patients. A highly significant correlation was noted between ''Hex B'' and CDT in these patients (rho = 0.52, p < 0.001). Neither ''Hex B'' nor CDT correlated with gamma-glutamyltransferase or AST, The disappearance rates from serum of ''Hex B'' and CDT were det ermined in 21 hospitalized patients followed for up to 15 days, ''Hex B'' and CDT showed similar timecourse variation and half-lives, 6.5 +/ - 3.7 (mean +/- SD) and 8.6 +/- 4.1 days, respectively. The possible r easons for a relation between these two markers are discussed, and it is concluded that more experience of both ''Hex B'' and CDT in unselec ted populations is needed to establish the diagnostic potential of the se tests as markers of alcohol abuse.