Source
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China. lys_2002cn@yahoo.com.cn
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a serious and potentially fetal consequence of alcohol use. The diagnosis of ALD is based on alcohol consumption, physical signs and symptoms, and laboratory tests. The aim of the present study was to assess the reliability of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in the diagnosis of ALD.
METHODS:
According to the diagnostic criteria for ALD by the Chinese Medical Association in 1995, 76 patients with ALD, 55 patients with alcoholism, 32 patients with nonalcoholic liver disease (NALD), and 27 healthy subjects (controls) were studied. Serum CDT was assayed by isoelectric focusing immunofixation and Comassie blue staining. The levels of alamine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) were also examined.
RESULTS:
The positive rate of CDT in the patients with ALD was 93.4%(71/76), which was higher than that in those with alcoholism (52.7%, 29/55, P<0.001), in those with NALD(9.4%, 3/32, P<0.001), and in healthy controls, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of CDT for ALD was 93.4% and 71.9%, respectively.
CONCLUSION:
CDT may help diagnose alcoholic liver disease.