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Erythrocyte thiamine (Th) esters: a major factor of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome or a candidate marker for alcoholism itself?

Ceccanti M, Mancinelli R, Sasso GF, Allen JP, Binetti R, Mellini A, Attilia F, Toppo L, Attilia ML

Alcohol Unit, University La Sapienza, Roma, Italy. mauro.ceccanti@uniromal.it

AIMS: Thiamine (Th) deficiency is a major problem in alcoholics. In this study, the relationship of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) to Th and its esters, as well as the diagnostic power of Th and its esters were investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Th and its esters were assessed in a series of chronic alcoholics (and in controls) using an improved method. RESULTS: No association was found between AWS severity and Th and its esters, while the diagnostic power of thiamine diphosphate (TDP) and Th was very high. TDP was the most significant among the parameters under study, confirming that erythrocyte TDP is a suitable marker of alcoholism: TDP sensitivity across subjects was 84.1%, specificity 85.4%, positive predictive value 82.4%, and negative predictive value 88.0%.

Published 7 June 2005 in Alcohol Alcohol, 40(4): 283-90.
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