beta-Hexosaminidase in the detection of alcoholism and heavy drinking

The activities of beta-hexosaminidase (HEX), a lysosomal glycosidase, were studied in serum (sHEX) and urine (uHEX) among men with various drinking habits. Among 32 alcoholics, on the admission to the inpatient detoxification treatment, and among 25 drunkenness arrestees the average sHEX levels were twofold as compared with social drinkers (n = 16) or teetotallers (n = 27). The average urinary excretion of HEX was three times higher among alcoholics than teetotallers. In the detection of heavy drinking (over 60 g of 100% ethanol daily) sHEX and uHEX were more sensitive than serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (sGGT) both in alcoholics (sHEX = 69%, uHEX = 81%, sGGT = 48%) and in drunkenness arrestees (sHEX = 86%, sGGT = 66%). SHEX correlated positively with sASAT (r = 0.46 and 0.74; p < 0.01) and sALAT (r = 0.41 and 0.47; p < 0.01), but not with sGGT. The specificity of sHEX was 98% and that of uHEX 96%. The abstinence of 7-9 days had a significant decreasing effect on sHEX, but not on uHEX. Controlled moderate drinking (60 g of alcohol daily for ten days) was rapidly reflected on sHEX levels but not on uHEX levels. It is concluded that both sHEX and uHEX are sensitive laboratory markers of alcoholism and heavy drinking. As compared to each others sHEX may better reflect recent alcohol intake, whereas uHEX stays longer elevated after the cessation of drinking. HEX can be determined with a simple and inexpensive spectrophotometric method.