Use of capillary zone electrophoresis for differentiating excessive from moderate alcohol consumption.

Background: The poorly sialylated transferrin isoforms in serum were analyzed by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) to differentiate moderate from heavy alcohol consumption.

Methods: We enrolled 614 volunteers, classified after interviews, self-reported drinking habits, and AUDIT scores as alcohol abusers (consuming >50 g/day ethanol for the previous 3 months or longer; n = 413) or moderate drinkers (<30 g/day ethanol; n = 201). Serum transferrin isoforms were separated at 28 kV and monitored at 214 nm on a P/ACE 5500 CZE with use of fused-silica capillaries and the related CEofix CDT reagent set. Immunosubtraction by anti-human transferrin and electrophoretic migration times identified the isoforms. Previous markers of alcohol abuse and an assay combining anion-exchange minicolumn chromatography with immunoturbidimetry (%CDT) were included in the study. Sensitivities and specificities were compared by ROC analysis.

Results: The asialylated isoform was missing in 95% of moderate drinkers but present in 92% of alcohol misusers. Disialotransferrin had a specificity and sensitivity of 0.75 at a cutoff of 0.7% of total transferrin, whereas the sum (asialo- + disialotransferrin) at a threshold of 1.2% had a sensitivity of 0.73 and a specificity of 0.92. Trisialotransferrin values did not distinguish between the two populations. Sensitivities and specificities of %CDT averaged 0.77 and 0.74, respectively, at a 2.6% cutoff; 0.67 and 0.83 at 2.8%; and 0.63 and 0.90 at 3%. CDT data were more sensitive and specific for males. Conventional biomarkers appeared less discriminating.

Conclusions: Asialotransferrin detected by CZE in sera of alcohol abusers offers the highest discrimination between excessive and moderate drinking.