MEAN CELL VOLUME AND GAMMA-GLUTAMYL-TRANSPEPTIDASE AS MARKERS OF DRINKING IN WORKING MEN

Chick, Jonathan; Krietman, N.; Plant, Martin

Abstract

The usefulness of serum-gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (γ-GT) and mean cell volume (MCV) as markers of alcohol consumption was assessed in men in employment (266 company directors and 222 manual workers in alcohol-production firms) and in 34 male alcoholic patients. The correlations of admitted consumption with γ-GT were 0.307 (directors) and 0.418 (manual workers) and with MCV 0.439 (directors) and 0.360 (manual workers). A man with an MCV of over 98 fl and a γ-GT level above 50 i.u./l had a 62% chance of admitting to drinking over 450 g alcohol per week. Although the probability of being a heavy drinker increases progressively with elevation in both these tests, as screening tests they lack power, though false positives may be explained in part by inaccurate self-reports by both survey subjects and patients. For clinical purposes, however, the tests have a use in supplementing self-report and in following problem drinkers in outpatient treatment. © 1981.

Citation

Chick, J., Krietman, N., & Plant, M. (1981). MEAN CELL VOLUME AND GAMMA-GLUTAMYL-TRANSPEPTIDASE AS MARKERS OF DRINKING IN WORKING MEN. Lancet, 317(8232), 1249-1251. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736%2881%2992413-2

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 6, 1981
• Journal: The Lancet
• Print ISSN: 0140-6736
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 317
• Issue: 8232
• Pages: 1249-1251
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736%2881%2992413-2
• Keywords: mean cell volume, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, markers of drinking, working men
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1114022
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(81)92413-2