Changes in carbohydrate-deficient transferrin levels after alcohol withdrawal

Abstract

Sequential serum levels of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) were determined in 72 alcoholics at various intervals during detoxification. Before treatment, 57 patients (79%) had increased CDT values (Group A), whereas in 15 individuals (21%) (Group B), CDT levels were within the normal range. In 51 Group A patients, CDT decreased progressively after cessation of alcohol intake (half-life, 16 +/- 5 days), but fluctuated and remained abnormal in the remaining six. Nine Group B patients maintained normal CDT values throughout the follow-up period, but slightly or moderately increased levels were recorded on one occasion in the other six Group B subjects. Patients whose CDT levels had reached normal values after treatment, showed a recurrent increase in CDT after a relapse. gamma-Glutamyl transferase activities, which were elevated in 56% of Group A and in 80% of Group B alcoholics, showed a decrease after cessation of alcohol consumption in most patients with initially elevated values (Group A, 30 of 32; Group B, 10 of 12). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, as well as mean corpuscular volumes (MCV) were normal in the majority of patients. CDT/total transferrin ratios correlated positively with CDT levels. CDT proved to be the most sensitive marker for chronic alcoholism (79%), whereas GGT activity levels were more useful only in patients with normal CDT levels before alcohol withdrawal. In the assessment of treatment outcome, the combination of CDT and GGT as markers yielded a sensitivity of 95%.