Erythrocyte aldehyde dehydrogenase: assay of a potential biochemical marker of alcohol abuse.

Erythrocyte aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH; EC 1.2.1.3) may be a new biochemical indicator of alcohol abuse. An improved assay for it is described and characterized. We found that expression of erythrocyte ALDH activity in terms of hemoglobin was valid, and preferable to expression in terms of erythrocyte volume. A normal reference interval was determined from results for 375 healthy subjects (236 men, 139 women). We compared these data with results for 109 men admitted to our alcohol detoxification program. The mean erythrocyte ALDH of the alcohol abusers was 30% lower than our mean value for men (p less than 0.001). Values did not change between the time the patient presented for admission and greater than 48 h later (when blood-ethanol concentration was zero). Other variables that affect erythrocyte ALDH activities--changes in pH, temperature, other assay conditions, and drug treatments such as disulfiram and nitrate anti-anginals--are discussed.