[Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and liver diseases. Study of 94 patients].

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin has been proposed as a marker of alcohol consumption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the carbohydrate-deficient transferrin serum level, measured by ion exchange chromatography followed by radioimmunoassay (Kit CDTect), for the diagnosis of excessive alcohol intake in patients with liver diseases. Ninety-four patients (68 men, 26 women, age 21-71 years), 42 with alcoholic liver diseases and 52 with non-alcoholic liver diseases, were studied. Twenty-six patients consumed > or = 40 g alcohol per day (mean alcohol intake: 84 +/- 52 g per day) and were considered to be excessive drinkers.

RESULTS

The sensitivity of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin for the diagnosis of excessive alcohol intake was 35%, and the specificity was 91%. By pairing carbohydrate-deficient transferrin with other markers of alcohol consumption, the sensitivity of the association of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase was 96%, and the specificity was 59%.

CONCLUSION

In patients with liver diseases, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin is a specific marker of excessive alcohol intake but a lack of sensitivity may limit its use.