Alcoholism new marker
,
Hitherto, 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 clearer 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.
Author: Mohammad
Mohammad is the founder of STC Network which offers Web Services and Online Business Solutions to clients around the globe. Read More →