[Role of glutamate dehydrogenase in the biological detection of excessive drinkers].

384 hospitalized patients of both sexes were classified into drinkers and non-drinkers according to clinical criteria. On admission, we measured four blood parameters : glutamate dehydrogenase, gamma glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase and the mean corpuscular volume. the discriminating power of these laboratory parameters was evaluated by descriptive statistical tests and by the determination of their positive and negative predictive value. Glutamate dehydrogenase appears to present a sensitivity almost equivalent to that of gamma glutamyl transferase and a better specificity : this results in a more positive predictive value. The two other laboratory parameters are less discriminating.