The activity of beta-hexosaminidase (uHex) and gamma-glutamyl-transferase (uGGT) in urine as non-invasive markers of chronic alcohol abuse: I. Alcohol-dependent subjects

World J Biol Psychiatry. 2001 Oct;2(4):184-9. doi: 10.3109/15622970109026807.

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that in alcohol-dependent men the uHex test is one of the most powerful discriminating tools, while uGGT has a discriminating power similar to that of sHex but worse than that of uHex, sGGT and s%CDT. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) areas under the curves (AUC) for uHex, uGGT, s%CDT, sHex and sGGT were 0.92, 0.79, 0.88, 0.79 and 0.92, respectively. Due to their good parameters, low cost, ease of use and non-invasive character the uHex and uGGT tests are useful tools for the detection of chronic alcohol abuse.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / diagnosis
  • Alcoholism / enzymology*
  • Alcoholism / rehabilitation
  • Biomarkers
  • Humans
  • Inactivation, Metabolic
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • ROC Curve
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / metabolism*
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / urine
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase / metabolism*
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase / urine

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases