Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin as a marker of chronic alcohol abuse: a critical review of preanalysis, analysis, and interpretation.

BACKGROUND: Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is used for diagnosis of chronic alcohol abuse. Some 200-300 reports on CDT have been published in impact factor-listed journals. The aims of this review were to condense the current knowledge and to resolve remaining issues on CDT.

APPROACH: The literature (1976-2000) was searched using MEDLINE and Knowledge Server with "alcohol and CDT" as the search items. The data were reviewed systematically, checked for redundancy, and organized in sequence based on the steps involved in CDT analysis.

CONTENT: The review is divided into sections based on microheterogeneity of human serum transferrin (Tf), definition of CDT, structure of human serum CDT, pathomechanisms of ethanol-induced CDT increase, preanalysis, analysis, and medical interpretation (postanalysis). Test-specific cutoff values for serum CDT and causes of false positives and negatives for chronic alcohol abuse are discussed and summarized.

SUMMARY: Asialo- and disialo-Fe(2)-Tf, which lack one or two complete N-glycans, and monosialo-Fe(2)-Tf (structure remains unclear) are collectively referred to as CDT. Diminished mRNA concentration and glycoprotein glycosyltransferase activities involved in Tf N-glycan synthesis and increased sialidase activity most likely account for alcohol-induced increases in CDT. Knowledge about in vivo and in vitro effects on serum CDT is poor. Reliable CDT and non-CDT fractionation is needed for CDT measurement. Analysis methods with different analytical specificities and recoveries decreased the comparability of values and statistical parameters of the diagnostic efficiency of CDT. CDT is the most specific marker of chronic alcohol abuse to date. Efforts should concentrate on the pathomechanisms (in vivo), preanalysis, and standardization of CDT analysis.