[Carbohydrate deficient transferrin--a reliable marker of alcohol abuse?].

Carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) is an isoform of transferrin with a reduced carbohydrate content, especially the negatively charged sialic acid. This alters the pI value and allows the separation of CDT from normal transferrin. CDT has a higher sensitivity and specificity than other currently known markers of alcoholism. Increased CDT values are found in patients with non-alcoholic liver disease. The cost of the analysis is high and the benefit of this marker is still uncertain.