Citation

Muller-Wickop J, Jansen J, Fehling A, Sandner-Lambert S. Blutalkohol 1997; 34(3): 214-224.

Affiliation

Muller-Wickop, J., Medizinisch-Psychologisches Institut, TUV Nord, 20144 Hamburg, Germany

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety and Bund gegen Alkohol und Drogen im Straßenverkehr, Publisher Steintor Verlag)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In medico-psychological examinations of DUI offenders in the Federal Republic of Germany, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase is used as a marker for alcohol abuse. In the above study the GGT distributions of two samples were assessed: Sample 1 involved the data of 701 patients (598 male/103 female) all of whom had been diagnosed with an alcohol dependency and were currently receiving treatment. GGT values were determined on the first day of hospitalisation for detoxification and therapy. Sample 2 consisted of 19,198 apparently healthy persons (15,877 male/3,321 female). GGT values were determined by doctors during routine medical examinations at the place of work. Using a cut off level of 28 U/L for males (measured at 25(degrees)C), GGT had a sensitivity of 71.6 per cent and a specificity of 81.3 per cent. At a standard cut off level of 18 U/L for females the sensitivity was 86.3 percent and the specificity was 89.5 per cent. The amount of false positive readings is reduced so long as GOT and GPT values lie within their normal range.