Carbohydrate deficient transferrin in alcoholic liver disease: Mechanisms and clinical implications

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is now considered to be the most s ensitive and specific biological marker of alcohol abuse. The mechanism by which chronic alcohol consumption causes an elevation of CDT levels in seru m is discussed. The sensitivity and specificity of various test procedures are compared, with special emphasis on the impact of liver disease. Clinica l applications are reviewed, including the utility of CDT as a marker of re lapse in alcoholic patients, and the use of CDT for the systematic screenin g of drinking in vulnerable populations as part of a public health approach to alcoholism. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.