ABSTRACT
Alterations in biochemical parameters during alcohol abuse have been the focus of investigations for many years. However, only a very few have been of value as diagnostic markers. The most reliable markers today are carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT). CDT offers the advantage of higher specificity, whereas the sensitivities of GGT and CDT are comparable. A combination of CDT plus GGT may increase diagnostic efficacy. However, as none of the markers exhibit maximum diagnostic efficacy, biochemical markers need to be used with caution and should always be interpreted in connection with other clinical symptoms or diagnostic questionnaires.
