CARBOHYDRATE-DEFICIENT TRANSFERRIN IN PAT IENTS WITH LIVER-DISEASES -A STUDY OF 94 PATIENTS

Objectives and methods. - Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin has been proposed as a marker of alcohol consumption. The aim of this study,vas to evaluate the accuracy of the carbohydrate-deficient transferrin se rum level, measured by ion exchange chromatography followed by radioim munoassay (Kit CDTect(TM)), for the diagnosis of excessive alcohol int ake in patients with liver diseases. Ninety-four patients (68 men, 26 women, age 21-71 years), 42 with alcoholic liver diseases and 52 with non-alcoholic liver diseases, were studied. Twenty-six patients con su med greater than or equal to 40g alcohol per day (mean alcohol intake: 84 +/- 52 g per day) and were considered to be excessive drinkers. Re sults. - The sensitivity of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin for the diagnosis of excessive alcohol intake was 35 %, and the specificity w as 91 %. By pairing carbohydrate-deficient transferrin with other mark ers of alcohol consumption, the sensitivity of the association of carb ohydrate-deficient transferrin and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase was 96 %, and the specificity was 59 %. Conclusion. - In patients with liver diseases, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin is a specific marker of excessive alcohol intake but a lack of sensitivity may limit its use.