Erythrocyte thiamine (Th) esters: a major factor of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome or a candidate marker for alcoholism itself?

Alcohol Alcohol. 2005 Jul-Aug;40(4):283-90. doi: 10.1093/alcalc/agh162. Epub 2005 Apr 25.

Abstract

Aims: Thiamine (Th) deficiency is a major problem in alcoholics. In this study, the relationship of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) to Th and its esters, as well as the diagnostic power of Th and its esters were investigated.

Patients and methods: Th and its esters were assessed in a series of chronic alcoholics (and in controls) using an improved method.

Results: No association was found between AWS severity and Th and its esters, while the diagnostic power of thiamine diphosphate (TDP) and Th was very high. TDP was the most significant among the parameters under study, confirming that erythrocyte TDP is a suitable marker of alcoholism: TDP sensitivity across subjects was 84.1%, specificity 85.4%, positive predictive value 82.4%, and negative predictive value 88.0%.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alcohol Drinking / blood
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology
  • Alcoholism / blood*
  • Alcoholism / diagnosis
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Comorbidity
  • Erythrocytes / chemistry*
  • Esters
  • Female
  • Fluorometry / methods
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • ROC Curve
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / blood*
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / etiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / diagnosis
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Thiamine / blood*
  • Thiamine Monophosphate / blood
  • Thiamine Pyrophosphate / blood

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Esters
  • Thiamine Monophosphate
  • Thiamine Pyrophosphate
  • Thiamine