IS CARBOHYDRATE-DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN IN SERUM USEFUL FOR DETECTING EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

The aim of this study was to examine the diagnostic usefulness of carb ohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in serum in a cross-sectional stu dy of 439 treated hypertensive men. We related the results to alcohol intake by questionnaire and to biochemical and hemodynamic measurement s known to reflect excessive alcohol consumption. The diagnostic sensi tivity and the specificity for high alcohol intake (greater than or eq ual to 24 g/day of ethanol) were 44% and 87%, respectively. The group with reported high alcohol intake (n = 32) was characterized by hemody namic and biochemical changes typical of alcohol abuse. The correspond ing profile for the patients with increased serum CDT concentrations ( n = 70) was different in several respects, indicating a considerable n umber of false-positive tests. We conclude that serum CDT determinatio n had low sensitivity and specificity for excessive alcohol consumptio n in this group of hypertensive patients. The results illustrate the i mportance of evaluating new laboratory methods in unselected patient p opulations before drawing any conclusions about their clinical value.