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

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

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.

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.

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