1
|
Raynor A, Haouari W, Lebredonchel E, Foulquier F, Fenaille F, Bruneel A. Biochemical diagnosis of congenital disorders of glycosylation. Adv Clin Chem 2024; 120:1-43. [PMID: 38762238 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2024.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are one of the fastest growing groups of inborn errors of metabolism, comprising over 160 described diseases to this day. CDG are characterized by a dysfunctional glycosylation process, with molecular defects localized in the cytosol, the endoplasmic reticulum, or the Golgi apparatus. Depending on the CDG, N-glycosylation, O-glycosylation and/or glycosaminoglycan synthesis can be affected. Various proteins, lipids, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors bear glycan chains, with potential impacts on their folding, targeting, secretion, stability, and thus, functionality. Therefore, glycosylation defects can have diverse and serious clinical consequences. CDG patients often present with a non-specific, multisystemic syndrome including neurological involvement, growth delay, hepatopathy and coagulopathy. As CDG are rare diseases, and typically lack distinctive clinical signs, biochemical and genetic testing bear particularly important and complementary diagnostic roles. Here, after a brief introduction on glycosylation and CDG, we review historical and recent findings on CDG biomarkers and associated analytical techniques, with a particular emphasis on those with relevant use in the specialized clinical chemistry laboratory. We provide the reader with insights and methods which may help them properly assist the clinician in navigating the maze of glycosylation disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Raynor
- AP-HP, Biochimie Métabolique et Cellulaire, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France
| | - Walid Haouari
- INSERM UMR1193, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | | | - François Foulquier
- Université de Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576-UGSF-Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Lille, France
| | - François Fenaille
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé, MetaboHUB, Gif sur Yvette, France.
| | - Arnaud Bruneel
- AP-HP, Biochimie Métabolique et Cellulaire, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France; INSERM UMR1193, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wielders JPM, Porpiglia NM, Schellenberg F, Deenmamode J, Delanghe J, Anton RF, Bortolotti F, Siebelder C, Tagliaro F, Weykamp C, Helander A. Recommendations on the measurement and use of the alcohol consumption biomarker CDT. A position paper from the IFCC Working Group on CDT standardisation. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 555:117800. [PMID: 38309557 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.117800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) is a biomarker for excessive alcohol consumption utilized in clinical and forensic medicine and workplace testing. Previously, many different analytical methods for CDT were used and the measurand varied considerably, making direct comparison of test results difficult. To end this confusion, the IFCC established a working group on CDT standardisation (WG-CDT) which completed its tasks in 2017. METHODS This IFCC position paper by the WG-CDT summarizes state of the art information about the measurand and the analytical methods and gives concise recommendations for its utilization. RESULTS The results achieved by the CDT standardisation process led to accuracy improvements in national external quality assessment schemes over the years. A brief review of ROC based comparison studies with the traditional biomarkers (GGT, MCV, ALT and AST) discusses the bias resulting from inadequate study populations. In large groups of the general population the superior diagnostic performance of CDT is confirmed. CONCLUSION The relationship between alcohol intake versus resulting CDT is discussed as well as the cutoff and measurement uncertainty. Concerning the application in practice, potential pitfalls are considered and recommendations handling both analytical and preanalytical caveats are given. Finally, some examples of serious misunderstandings in publications about CDT are addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J P M Wielders
- Joseph Peter Marie Wielders, Amersfoort, the Netherlands.
| | - N M Porpiglia
- Nadia Maria Porpiglia, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | | | | | - J Delanghe
- Joris Delanghe, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - R F Anton
- Raymond Francis Anton, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - F Bortolotti
- Federica Bortolotti, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - C Siebelder
- Carla Siebelder, MCA Laboratory, Queen Beatrix Hospital, Winterswijk, the Netherlands
| | - F Tagliaro
- Franco Tagliaro, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - C Weykamp
- Cas Weykamp, MCA Laboratory, Queen Beatrix Hospital, Winterswijk, the Netherlands
| | - A Helander
- Anders Helander, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Veronesi A, Cariani E, Trenti T, Rota C. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin: utility of HPLC in handling atypical samples uninterpretable by capillary electrophoresis. Alcohol Alcohol 2019; 54:510-515. [DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agz059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
HPLC retesting allowed to resolve about half of the most common CDT patterns uninterpretable by CE. The usefulness of this approach should be evaluated in the specific context of each laboratory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnese Veronesi
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Advanced Diagnostics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ospedale Civile S. Agostino-Estense, Modena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Cariani
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Advanced Diagnostics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ospedale Civile S. Agostino-Estense, Modena, Italy
| | - Tommaso Trenti
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Advanced Diagnostics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ospedale Civile S. Agostino-Estense, Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Rota
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Advanced Diagnostics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ospedale Civile S. Agostino-Estense, Modena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bortolotti F, Sorio D, Bertaso A, Tagliaro F. Analytical and diagnostic aspects of carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT): A critical review over years 2007-2017. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2017; 147:2-12. [PMID: 28912047 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The need for investigating alcohol abuse by means of objective tools is worldwide accepted. Among the currently available biomarkers of chronic alcohol abuse, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is one of the most used indicator, mainly because of its high specificity. However, some CDT analytical and interpretation aspects are still under discussion, as witnessed by numerous research papers and reviews. The present article presents a critical review of the literature on CDT appeared in the period from 2007 to 2017 (included). The article is organized in the following sections: (1) introduction, (2) pre-analytical aspects (3) analytical aspects (4) diagnostic aspects (5) concluding remarks. As many as 139 papers appeared in the international literature and retrieved by the search engines PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus are quoted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- F Bortolotti
- Dept of Diagnostics and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Italy.
| | - D Sorio
- Dept of Diagnostics and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Italy
| | - A Bertaso
- Dept of Diagnostics and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Italy
| | - F Tagliaro
- Dept of Diagnostics and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Italy; Institute of Pharmacy and Translational Medicine, Sechenov First Medical University, Moskow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Reprint of Standardisation and use of the alcohol biomarker carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT). Clin Chim Acta 2017; 467:15-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2017.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
6
|
IFCC approved HPLC reference measurement procedure for the alcohol consumption biomarker carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT): Its validation and use. Clin Chim Acta 2017; 465:91-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2016.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
7
|
Stewart SH, Reuben A, Anton RF. Relationship of Abnormal Chromatographic Pattern for Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin with Severe Liver Disease. Alcohol Alcohol 2016; 52:24-28. [PMID: 27998920 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agw069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is a validated test for chronic heavy alcohol drinking, but CDT abnormalities have been associated with liver disease, limiting its use in these patients. We report here on the association between poor chromatographic resolution of disialotransferrin from trisialotransferrin (the so-called 'di-tri bridging') and liver disease severity and etiology. METHODS Subjects were patients in whom detailed clinical data, including histology results, were available on their existing liver diseases (n=139). Percent disialo-CDT (%dCDT) was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the risks for di-tri bridging associated with cirrhosis, with and without adjustment for alcohol use and alcohol-related liver disease, were estimated. RESULTS Di-tri bridging was present in 22/73 (30%) cirrhotic subjects and 7/66 (11%) non-cirrhotic subjects. The unadjusted risk for di-tri bridging in cirrhotics relative to non-cirrhotics was 3.6 (95% confidence interval 1.4-9.2). Adjustment for alcohol-related liver disease and current drinking had little effect on this estimate (adjusted odds ratio 3.4), and neither alcohol-related liver disease nor current drinking were independently associated with di-tri bridging after accounting for the effect of cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS The presence of di-tri bridging was associated with cirrhosis in individuals with both alcohol-related and non-alcoholic liver disease, although most cirrhotic subjects did not exhibit di-tri bridging. When di-tri bridging is seen in individuals being tested for chronic heavy drinking, investigation for cirrhosis should be considered. SHORT SUMMARY There are known liver-disease-associated abnormalities in CDT. In this study, we found that such abnormalities were strongly associated with cirrhosis rather than less-advanced disease, but were only clinically evident in 30% of cirrhotics. Abnormalities also occurred in severe hepatitis without cirrhosis and were not specific for liver disease etiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott H Stewart
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University at Buffalo , 462 Grider Street, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA
| | - Adrian Reuben
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Raymond F Anton
- Addiction Sciences Division, Medical University of South Carolina, 96 Jonathan Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Helander A, Wielders J, Anton R, Arndt T, Bianchi V, Deenmamode J, Jeppsson JO, Whitfield JB, Weykamp C, Schellenberg F. Standardisation and use of the alcohol biomarker carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT). Clin Chim Acta 2016; 459:19-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2016.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
9
|
Łangowska-Grodzka B, Ziółkowski M, Czarnecki D. Evaluation of drug dependent persons’ health on the basis of routine laboratory test results. ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ADDICTION 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.alkona.2016.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
|
10
|
Bianchi V, Premaschi S, Raspagni A, Secco S, Vidali M. A comparison between serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and hair ethyl glucuronide in detecting chronic alcohol consumption in routine. Alcohol Alcohol 2015; 50:266-70. [PMID: 25698630 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agv005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS In heavy alcohol consumption laboratory tests represent an objective evidence. In this study we compared older and newer biomarkers in blood and in hair. METHODS Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), ethyl glucuronide (EtG), AST, ALT, GGT, MCV were measured in a large sample (n = 562). All people declared no alcohol consumption within the last 3 months. Serum CDT was measured by the candidate HPLC reference method and expressed as relative amount of disialotransferrin (%DST: cutoff 1.7%). EtG was measured in hair by a validated in-house method by LC-MS/MS (cutoff 30 pg/mg). RESULTS Respectively, 42 (7.5%) and 76 (13.5%) subjects were positive to CDT and EtG. In particular, 30 (5.3%) subjects were positive to both tests, 12 (2.1%) only to CDT, while 46 (8.2%) only to EtG. The agreement (positive and negative pairs) between CDT and EtG was 89.7%. Interestingly, 6 out of 12 (50%) CDT-positive subjects had EtG < 15 pg/mg, whereas 27 out of 46 (59%) EtG-positive subjects had CDT < 1.1%. Forty-one out of 76 (54%) EtG-positive subjects display EtG values within 30-50 pg/mg. CONCLUSION Large variability exists between CDT and EtG in detecting chronic alcohol consumption. We suggest to use CDT, or a combination of different biomarkers, to identify alcohol abuse in a forensic context. EtG results close to the cutoff (30-50 pg/mg) should be cautiously considered before any sanction is assigned.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenza Bianchi
- Toxicology Laboratory, SS. Antonio e Biagio e C. Arrigo Hospital, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Simone Premaschi
- Toxicology Laboratory, SS. Antonio e Biagio e C. Arrigo Hospital, Alessandria, Italy
| | | | - Serena Secco
- Toxicology Laboratory, SS. Antonio e Biagio e C. Arrigo Hospital, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Matteo Vidali
- Department of Medical Sciences, University 'Amedeo Avogadro' of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy Clinical Chemistry Unit, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Piano S, Marchioro L, Gola E, Rosi S, Morando F, Cavallin M, Sticca A, Fasolato S, Forza G, Chiara Frigo A, Plebani M, Zanus G, Cillo U, Gatta A, Angeli P. Assessment of alcohol consumption in liver transplant candidates and recipients: the best combination of the tools available. Liver Transpl 2014; 20:815-22. [PMID: 24692331 DOI: 10.1002/lt.23881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The detection of alcohol consumption in liver transplant candidates (LTCs) and liver transplant recipients (LTRs) is required to enable a proper assessment of transplant eligibility and early management of alcohol relapse, respectively. In this clinical setting, urinary ethyl glucuronide (uEtG), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Alcohol Consumption (AUDIT-c), serum ethanol, urinary ethanol, carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), and other indirect markers of alcohol consumption were evaluated and compared prospectively in 121 LTCs and LTRs. Alcohol consumption was diagnosed when AUDIT-c results were positive or it was confirmed by a patient's history in response to abnormal results. Alcohol consumption was found in 30.6% of the patients. uEtG was found to be the strongest marker of alcohol consumption (odds ratio = 414.5, P < 0.001) and provided a more accurate prediction rate of alcohol consumption [area under receiving operating characteristic (ROC) curve = 0.94] than CDT (area under ROC curve = 0.63, P < 0.001) and AUDIT-c (area under ROC curve = 0.73, P < 0.001). The combination of uEtG and AUDIT-c showed higher accuracy in detecting alcohol consumption in comparison with the combination of CDT and AUDIT-c (area under ROC curve = 0.98 versus 0.80, P < 0.001). Furthermore, uEtG was the most useful marker for detecting alcohol consumption in patients with negative AUDIT-c results. In conclusion, the combination of AUDIT-c and uEtG improves the detection of alcohol consumption in LTCs and LTRs. Therefore, they should be used routinely for these patients.
Collapse
|
12
|
Fagan KJ, Irvine KM, McWhinney BC, Fletcher LM, Horsfall LU, Johnson L, O'Rourke P, Martin J, Scott I, Pretorius CJ, Ungerer JPJ, Powell EE. Diagnostic sensitivity of carbohydrate deficient transferrin in heavy drinkers. BMC Gastroenterol 2014; 14:97. [PMID: 24885510 PMCID: PMC4042141 DOI: 10.1186/1471-230x-14-97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) is the most specific serum biomarker of heavy alcohol consumption, defined as ≥ 350–420 g alcohol/week. Despite introduction of a standardized reference measurement technique, widespread use of CDT remains limited due to low sensitivity. The aim of this study was to determine the factors that affect diagnostic sensitivity in patients with sustained heavy alcohol intake. Methods Patients with a self-reported history of sustained heavy alcohol consumption were recruited from the hepatology outpatient department or medical wards. Each patient was interviewed with a validated structured questionnaire of alcohol consumption and CDT analysis using the standardized reference measurement technique with high performance liquid chromatography was performed on serum collected at time of interview. Results 52 patients were recruited: 19 from the hepatology outpatient department and 33 from general medical wards. Median alcohol intake was 1013 (range 366–5880) g/week over the preceding two week period. 26 patients had a diagnostic CDT based on a threshold value of %CDT > 1.7 indicating heavy alcohol consumption, yielding a sensitivity of 50%. Overweight/obesity (defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2 in Caucasians and ≥ 23.0 kg/m2 in Asians), female gender and presence of cirrhosis were independently associated with non-diagnostic %CDT (≤ 1.7). Conclusions CDT has limited sensitivity as a biomarker of heavy alcohol consumption. Caution should be applied when ordering and interpreting %CDT results, particularly in women, patients with cirrhosis and those with an elevated BMI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Elizabeth E Powell
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba 4102, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Stewart SH, Koch DG, Willner IR, Anton RF, Reuben A. Validation of blood phosphatidylethanol as an alcohol consumption biomarker in patients with chronic liver disease. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2014; 38:1706-11. [PMID: 24848614 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blood phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a promising biomarker of alcohol consumption. This study was conducted to evaluate its performance in patients with liver disease. METHODS This study included 222 patients with liver disease. Patient-reported alcohol use was obtained as a reference standard, and PEth was measured by tandem mass spectrometry. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and contingency table analyses were used to assess the performance of PEth in detecting any drinking and averaging 4 or more drinks daily in the past 30 days. RESULTS At the limit of quantitation (20 ng/ml), PEth was 73% sensitive (95% confidence interval [CI] 65 to 80) and 96% specific (95% CI 92 to 100) for any drinking in the past month. Subjects who drank but had a negative PEth result were mainly light drinkers. Subjects who reported 30-day abstinence but with quantifiable PEth either reported heavy drinking within the past 6 weeks or had data that suggested underreported drinking. At the optimal cutoff concentration of 80 ng/ml, PEth was 91% sensitive (95% CI 82 to 100) and 77% specific (95% CI 70 to 83) for averaging at least 4 drinks daily. CONCLUSIONS PEth is a useful test for detecting alcohol use in patients with liver disease, but cutoff concentrations for heavy drinking will result in misclassification of some moderate to heavy drinkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott H Stewart
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Fagan KJ, Irvine KM, McWhinney BC, Fletcher LM, Horsfall LU, Johnson LA, Clouston AD, Jonsson JR, O'Rourke P, Martin J, Pretorius CJ, Ungerer JPJ, Powell EE. BMI but not stage or etiology of nonalcoholic liver disease affects the diagnostic utility of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2013; 37:1771-8. [PMID: 23875541 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 03/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A reliable biomarker is required in hepatology clinics for detection and follow-up of heavy alcohol consumption. Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) increases with sustained heavy alcohol consumption and is the most specific biomarker of ethanol (EtOH) consumption. Recent introduction of a standardized method for measuring CDT has improved its clinical application. This study was designed to determine whether alcohol-independent factors influence CDT levels in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). METHODS The relationship between serum %CDT and self-reported history of alcohol consumption was examined in 254 patients referred for evaluation of liver disease. CDT analysis was performed on serum collected at time of liver biopsy. RESULTS CDT levels were not affected by severity or etiology of nonalcoholic liver disease. Thirteen of 254 subjects had a %CDT >1.7, predictive of heavy alcohol intake, 6 of whom did not acknowledge heavy drinking. Twelve of these 13 subjects were suspected heavy drinkers on review of their medical records and clinical results. Conversely, not all acknowledged heavy drinkers had %CDT >1.7. Heavy drinkers with a body mass index (BMI) in the overweight or obese range had significantly lower %CDT than lean heavy drinkers. This persisted even when lean body weight was used as an approximation of the EtOH volume of distribution. CONCLUSIONS An elevated BMI reduces the diagnostic utility of CDT at higher alcohol intake in subjects with CLD using the standardized method. In a hepatology outpatient setting, this assay is likely to be useful to confirm suspicion of heavy drinking in subjects who are not overweight, but cannot reliably identify moderate drinkers or heavy drinkers who are overweight.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Fagan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology , Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Centre for Liver Disease Research , School of Medicine, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Helander A, Kenan Modén N. Effect of transferrin glycation on the use of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin as an alcohol biomarker. Alcohol Alcohol 2013; 48:478-82. [PMID: 23690231 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agt045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Measurement of an alcohol-induced shift in the serum transferrin glycosylation pattern, termed carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), is used as a biomarker for sustained high alcohol consumption. The present work examined whether non-enzymatic reaction of transferrin with glucose (glycation) might interfere with the use of CDT as an alcohol biomarker. METHODS The blood specimens were leftover volumes from the routine sample pool. Plasma and serum were collected among samples submitted for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and CDT testing. Quantification of individual transferrin glycoforms in percentage of total transferrin was performed by an HPLC candidate CDT reference method. RESULTS Incubating serum spiked with 20 or 200 mmol/l glucose caused time- and dose-dependent changes in the chromatographic profile of transferrin glycoforms, resulting in gradually wider peaks and reduced relative amounts of disialo- and trisialotransferrin. No similar chromatographic effects were seen in samples collected from diabetic patients with elevated HbA1c (>68 mmol/mol) values. These samples instead showed slightly higher mean %disialotransferrin levels (1.21%) compared with low HbA1c (<44 mmol/mol) samples (mean 1.06%; P = 0.023), pointing at a higher alcohol consumption level in the former group. Altogether ∼5% of the CDT values exceeded the cutoff. There was no significant difference in phosphatidylethanol (PEth) levels between the high and low HbA1c samples, but several (∼14%) showed elevated PEth concentrations. CONCLUSION Glycation of serum transferrin in vivo was indicated to differ from that in vitro, and suggested not to interfere with %CDT testing by the HPLC method. The results indicated that CDT and PEth are useful as objective, complementary alcohol biomarkers to identify risky drinking also in diabetic subjects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anders Helander
- Alcohol Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
Landberg E, Åström E, Kågedal B, Påhlsson P. Disialo-trisialo bridging of transferrin is due to increased branching and fucosylation of the carbohydrate moiety. Clin Chim Acta 2012; 414:58-64. [PMID: 22902807 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2012.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2012] [Revised: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 07/31/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) is used for detection of alcohol abuse and follow-up. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of transferrin glycoforms is highly specific for identification of alcohol abuse, but unresolved disialo- and trisialotransferrin glycoforms sometimes makes interpretation difficult. The cause of this phenomenon is unknown, cannot be explained by genetic variants of transferrin, but seems to be associated with liver disease. METHODS Nineteen serum samples showing di-tri bridging when analyzed by HPLC were collected. Transferrin was purified by affinity chromatography, and N-linked oligosaccharides were released enzymatically. The N-glycans were further analyzed by high performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. RESULTS The HPLC-analysis showed three different types of glycoform patterns. The N-glycans from fifteen samples showed patterns with increased number of triantennary structures containing one or two fucose residues. One sample contained an increased amount of triantennary glycans without fucose. Three samples showed a glycosylation pattern similar to normal transferrin. CONCLUSIONS The di-tri bridging phenomenon was associated with alterations in transferrin glycosylation in the majority of cases. Transferrin contained a higher extent of triantennary and often fucosylated N-linked oligosaccharides. These results may be important in future diagnostic approaches to liver diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Landberg
- Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chrostek L, Cylwik B, Gruszewska E, Panasiuk A, Szmitkowski M. N-Latex CDT results in liver diseases. Alcohol Alcohol 2012; 47:428-32. [PMID: 22582186 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/ags053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS The aim of this study was to test whether liver diseases of alcoholic and non-alcoholic origin cause false-positive carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) results when the particle-enhanced immunonephelometry for CDT assays is used and to assess the effect of liver disease severity on N-Latex CDT results. METHODS Blood was sampled from 245 newly admitted patients suffering from liver diseases: alcoholic and non-alcoholic cirrhosis (AC), chronic viral (B and C) and non-viral hepatitis, toxic and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), hepatocellular carcinoma and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). CDT was determined by particle-enhanced imunononephelometry using the N-Latex CDT test. RESULTS There were significant differences in %CDT levels between liver diseases of various etiologies. The %CDT level in AC was higher than that in chronic hepatitis (non-viral and viral C). In turn, the %CDT level in chronic hepatitis C was lower than that in toxic hepatitis. The frequency of false-positive %CDT results in liver diseases of non-alcoholic origin was 13/146, and was highest in AIH (4/14). There were no CDT-positive results in PBC and chronic hepatitis B. The frequency of CDT-positive results in alcoholic liver diseases was 24/59 in cirrhosis and 10/34 in hepatitis. Serum levels of %CDT in cirrhotic patients are correlated with the severity of the disease assessed by the Child-Pugh score. CONCLUSION We concluded that the liver diseases affect the relative but not absolute values of CDT when using the assay with the monoclonal antibodies directed against CDT. The CDT results from N-Latex CDT test reflect the severity of liver dysfunction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lech Chrostek
- Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University, Waszyngtona 15A, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Changes in transferrin glycosylation during pregnancy may lead to false-positive carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) results in testing for riskful alcohol consumption. Clin Chim Acta 2010; 412:129-33. [PMID: 20869959 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2010.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2010] [Revised: 09/17/2010] [Accepted: 09/17/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An alcohol-induced change in serum transferrin glycosylation, termed carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), is widely used as a biomarker of heavy long-term drinking. This study examined the transferrin glycosylation profile and the risk for false-positive CDT results during pregnancy. METHODS Serum samples were collected from 24 healthy pregnant women starting in gestation week 9-21, throughout pregnancy, and 8 or more weeks after delivery. Altogether 171 sera (5-9 samples/person) were analysed. Transferrin glycoforms were quantified as a percentage of total transferrin, using an HPLC candidate reference method for CDT. RESULTS During pregnancy, the relative disialo-, pentasialo- and hexasialotransferrin levels increased gradually, whereas trisialo- and tetrasialotransferrin were reduced. This effect was most pronounced in the third trimester. For disialotransferrin, the main target in CDT testing, initial values of 1.07 ± 0.17% (mean ± SD) increased to 1.61 ± 0.23% before delivery (~50% increase). Nine (38%) pregnant women reached %disialotransferrin values ≥ 1.7% (97.5th percentile for controls) but all results were < 2.0%. In the postpartum samples, all glycoform levels had returned towards the starting values. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the cutoff for %disialotransferrin and %CDT employed to indicate heavy long-term drinking need to be raised slightly in pregnant women, to minimize the risk for false-positive results on CDT testing.
Collapse
|