Evaluation of serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin as a marker of heavy drinking in gouty patients

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) was studied as a marker or heavy drinking in gouty patients using electrophoresis and radioimmunoassay. Serum CDT was siginificantly elevated in heavy drinking patients who consumed more than 80 g of ethanol per day (P < 0.001). CDT showed higher specificity in detecting heavy drinking than a conventional marker, γ-glutamyltransferase. CDT is considered to be useful as a marker of heavy drinking in gouty patients, which was not influenced either by the liver function or by the existence of obesity. The measurement of CDT will be helpful in the management of gout or hyperuricemia.