From the Guidelines
The most reliable acute marker in serum for alcohol consumption is ethanol (EtOH), which can be detected in serum for approximately 4-12 hours after alcohol consumption. According to the study by 1, EtOH is a direct marker of alcohol consumption and has a detection window of 4-12 hours. This makes it an excellent short-term indicator of recent alcohol intake. Other markers like GGT, AST, and ALT are indirect markers of alcohol consumption and reflect chronic damage rather than recent consumption 1.
The sensitivity and specificity of these markers vary, with EtOH being the most direct and reliable marker for acute alcohol consumption. The study by 1 provides a comprehensive overview of the different biomarkers for alcohol consumption, including their detection windows, sensitivity, and specificity.
Some of the other markers, such as %CDT, have a longer detection window of 1-2 weeks but are less sensitive and specific for acute alcohol consumption 1. The study by 1 also highlights the importance of using biomarkers in combination with other lab testing and clinical interviews to assess alcohol use.
In terms of detection windows, the study by 1 reports the following:
- EtOH: 4-12 hours
- %CDT: 1-2 weeks
- GGT, AST, and ALT: reflect chronic damage rather than recent consumption
Overall, EtOH is the most reliable acute marker in serum for alcohol consumption, and its detection window makes it an excellent short-term indicator of recent alcohol intake 1.
From the Research
Acute Marker for Alcohol Consumption
The provided studies focus on carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) as a biomarker for chronic alcohol consumption. However, they do not specifically address an acute marker for alcohol (ethanol) consumption in serum.
Biomarkers for Alcohol Consumption
- Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is a biomarker for chronic alcohol intake of more than 60 g ethanol/d, as reported in 2 and 3.
- Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is another marker of excessive alcohol consumption, as discussed in 4 and 3.
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is also mentioned as a conventional marker of alcohol abuse in 3.
Limitations of Current Biomarkers
- CDT has a relatively low sensitivity, making it less suitable for screening for subjects with alcohol abuse in the general population, as noted in 3.
- GGT and MCV are connected with chronic alcohol consumption by different pathophysiological mechanisms, and their combination with CDT may improve diagnostic value, as suggested in 3.
Acute vs. Chronic Markers
The studies provided do not specifically address acute markers of alcohol consumption. CDT and other mentioned biomarkers are more relevant to chronic alcohol consumption. Therefore, there is limited information available to answer the question about an acute marker in serum for alcohol (ethanol) consumption based on the provided evidence.