gamma-Glutamyl transferase and mean cell volume reveal maternal alcohol abuse and fetal alcohol effects.

Serial measurements of gamma-glutamyl transferase and mean cell volume were done in 85 pregnant alcohol abusers (320 samples). These included 26 moderate drinkers, 30 heavy drinkers, and 29 alcoholic women. Studies of 28 pregnant women who denied the use of alcohol (138 samples) showed that pregnancy itself had no effect on gamma-glutamyl transferase and mean cell volume. However, gamma-glutamyl transferase was increased in 14.9%, 31.7% and 59.1% of the samples collected from moderate drinkers, heavy drinkers, and alcoholic women, respectively, and likewise mean cell volume was elevated in 10.8%, 17.2%, and 40.2%, respectively. Either gamma-glutamyl transferase or mean cell volume was high or both were high in 27.1% of the moderate drinkers, in 38.3% of the heavy drinkers, and in 76.3% of the alcoholic women. Fetal alcohol effects developed in 42 cases. Increased gamma-glutamyl transferase predicted fetal alcohol effects in 61.5%, with a relative risk of 2.51. Elevated mean cell volume predicted fetal alcohol effects in 40.9%, with a relative risk of 2.40. These results suggest that the assay of gamma-glutamyl transferase and mean cell volume can be valuable in monitoring pregnant women with recognized or suspected alcohol abuse.