Deficient transferrin cocarboxylase

So far, the rate of GAMMA GT and MCV (see these terms), mean corpuscular volume of red blood cells, allowed to have an idea of a patient's chronic alcohol.

However, the specificity of these two markers is fairly low as modified in many other conditions not involving alcohol.

A new marker is much more specific and much sharper sensitivity.

It is the carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT).

In a subject who does not drink, the rate of CST is 2% relative to the total transferrin.

In a patient who drinks, the percentage of CDT increases very rapidly when alcohol consumption is greater at a dose of 50 to 80 g of alcohol per day for at least 8 days (a bottle of wine to 10 °)

The specificity of this assay is 97% and the estimated 82% sensitivity.

The half-life of CDT is 17 days, which makes it an interesting index in cases of intermittent alcohol.

The rate of CST is not influenced by other conditions (hence its specificity) or by taking medication.

This rate will be positive if the alcohol is more than 15 days with a consumption of 50 to 80 g of alcohol per day.

Note that pregnancy influences the dosing increments per liter every 5 weeks after the first trimester

This new marker is a valuable aid for the detection and monitoring of alcohol.

After 3 weeks of stopping alcohol intoxication, this assay is standardized.

It can detect relapse when the patient does not breathe a word.

Remember that alcohol can have normal levels of gamma GT. The CDT assay circumvents this problem.

By cons, subjects who do not drink can have high gamma GT. The CDT assay is then normal.

The CDT assay is an enzyme-linked radioimmunoassay.

It is considered a normal dose of CDT less than 60 mg / liter.

A subject who does not drink at a lower rate 60.

The increase in a subject who drinks is discreet, between 60 and 300 mg / liter, but this increase sign the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

The specificity and sensitivity of this new marker is very interesting for the treatment of the disease of alcoholism.