Phosphatidylethanol in patients with liver diseases of different etiologies: analysis of six homologues and comparison with other alcohol markers

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct alcohol biomarker. Aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of six homologues of PEth in comparison to other alcohol markers in patients with liver diseases.

METHODS: The study included 234 patients with liver disease, who gave statements about alcohol consumption during the three months prior to the doctor's appointment. Ethylglucuronide in urine (uEtG) and in hair (hEtG) and carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) were analyzed in addition to PEth.

RESULTS: Of all patients 47% stated to have drunk alcohol during the past three months. UEtG, hEtG and CDT showed a sensitivity of 29% and a specificity of 92% together for ingestion of at least two standard drinks (24 g) per week. With PEth 16:0/18:1 in addition, sensitivity increased to 59%. For consumption in the last week uEtG's sensitivity and specificity was 28% and 100%, respectively. PEth's was 75% and 93%. When looking at patients who consumed at least two standard drinks per week during the past three months and of which a hair sample could be obtained, hEtG's sensitivity was 37% and specificity 90%. PEth had a sensitivity of 53% and specificity of 100%. Quotients of PEth 16:0/18:1 with 16:0/18:2, 16:0/20:4 and 18:0/18:2 were smaller when alcohol had been consumed more recently.

CONCLUSION: Despite the rather poor overall sensitivity of alcohol biomarkers in this study, PEth showed best sensitivity for all time periods of alcohol consumption.