Usefulness of Carbohydrate‐Deficient Transferrin in Alcoholic Patients with Normal γ‐Glutamyltranspeptidase

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Abstract
The biological diagnosis of alcoholism is conducted routinely by assay of γ‐glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). However, their low specificity and sensitivity have prompted research to find other more reliable parameters. Stibler showed an increase in desialylated transferrin [carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin (CDT)] in alcoholic patients. The normal value of the serum CDT concentration is under 60 mg/liter; a value between 60 and 100 mg/liter indicates probable alcoholism, and a value >100 mg/liter indicates a very high probability of alcoholism (specificity: 99%). Its sensitivity ranges from 60 to 91%, and its specificity ranges from 92 to 100%. Its half‐life is 17 ± 4 days. CDT is thus a useful laboratory marker, but its assay is costlier and more complex than that of GGT. This study concerns 31 alcohol‐dependent patients as defined by DSM‐IV, with GGT levels in the normal range. It evaluates CDT at day 0 and its time course after 15 days withdrawal. GGT and MCV were assayed concomitantly. Remarkably, the results show a sensitivity of 83.9 (26 positives of 31) in this particular population and a specificity of 92.2. The fall in CDT after 15 days withdrawal was 36%. CDT is thus a particularly useful marker for the diagnosis and follow‐up of alcoholics with normal GGT levels.

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