Citation

Thiesen H, Hesse M. Addict. Behav. 2010; 35(3): 260-262.

Affiliation

City of Copenhagen HealthTeam, Sundholmsvej 18, 2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.addbeh.2009.10.005

PMID

19917520

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: In the search for optimal biomarkers of excessive drinking, a central limitation has been the lack of sensitivity of measures. Many patients have apparently normal values of liver markers despite a considerable alcohol intake. This study aimed to test a novel combined indicator of alcohol drinking. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Concentrations of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (%CDT), gamma glutamyl transferase (gammaGT), aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV), together with a combined index of the %CDT and gammaGT, the Antilla Index (AI), were studied in 104 homeless patients with (n=87) or without (n=24) problem drinking according to the Fast Alcohol Screening Test. RESULTS: Concentrations of all markers were significantly higher in the alcoholic patients than in other homeless patients. The best agreement between liver markers and self-reported status was found between the combined %CDT and gammaGT index (kappa=0.61, p<0.001, sensitivity=63%, specificity=94%). CONCLUSIONS: The combined AI is a relatively efficient measure of current drinking in homeless populations.

Language: en