Oct, 1, 2023

Vol.30 No.2, pp. 84-88

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  • Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
  • Volume 13(4); 2006
  • Article

Review

Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry 2006;13(4):273-8. Published online: Apr, 1, 2006

Abstract PDF Full Text

Comparing Biological Markers of Alcohol Dependence in the Patients of an Alcohol Counseling Center

  • Jung-Hyun Byun, MD1;Boung-Chul Lee, MD1;Byung-Joo Ham, MD1;Chan Seung Chung, MD1;Mina Hur, MD2;Jung-Joon Lee, MD3; and Ihn-Geun Choi, MD1;
    1;Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, 2;Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon, 3;Asan Mental Health Center, Asan, Korea
Abstract

Objectives：Biochemical markers can provide an objective evidence of heavy alcohol drinking. The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate the usefulness of biological markers detecting alcohol dependence, such as mean corpuscular volume(MCV), gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT), and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin(CDT) in the patients of an alcohol counseling center. 

Methods：This study was done with 64 patients with alcohol dependence and 36 healthy subjects. Relative values(%) of CDT were determined in their sera with turbidimetric immunoassay(Bio-Rad %CDT assay, Axis-Shield ASA, Oslo, Norway), and were compared with conventional markers of alcohol consumption, GGT and MCV. 

Results：Among the patients with alcohol dependence, 78.1% showed abnormal %CDT levels compared with GGT(61.9%) and MCV(20.7%). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves(95% confidence interval) for %CDT, GGT, and MCV were 0.934(0.866-0.973), 0.871(0.789-0.930), and 0.575 (0.472-0.673), respectively. 

Conclusion：%CDT seems to be the most reliable biological marker for the detection and monitoring of alcohol consumption in the patients with alcohol dependence of the alcohol counseling center.

Keywords Alcohol dependence;Biological marker;Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin;Gamma-glutamyltransferase;Mean corpuscular volume.