RESUMEN
Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) are commonly used alcohol markers for previous alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, the optimum EtG cutoff for urinary abstinence tests is still being discussed, and no cutoff has been recommended for EtS yet. The aim of this study was to verify cutoffs by investigating EtG and EtS concentrations (c(EtG) and c(EtS)) in the urine of healthy persons after drinking small, but realistic amounts of alcohol (one or two glasses of beer or white wine), and to look for the window of detection in strongly alcohol-intoxicated patients who were beginning withdrawal treatment. Very high EtG and EtS concentrations were measured in the first urine samples of patients under withdrawal treatment. However, 24 h later, concentrations decreased considerably, and c (EtG) < 0.5 mg/l and c (EtS) < 0.1 mg/l were determined in 26.7 % (4/13) and 13.3 % (2/13) of the samples, respectively. Concentrations above 0.1 mg/l (EtG) and 0.05 mg/l (EtS) were measured for 23.5 and 20.5 h after consuming 0.1 l of white wine or 0.33 l of beer, and 24 h after the experiment, 75 % (9/12) of the urine samples were tested negative for EtG and EtS using the following cutoffs: EtG 0.5 mg/l and EtS 0.1 mg/l. In half of the samples, concentrations below 0.1 mg/l (EtG) and 0.05 mg/l (EtS) were detected. Urinary cutoffs for EtG of 0.5 mg/l or higher are not suitable for testing abstinence. Even 0.1 mg/l is not effective to detect the intake of small amounts of alcohol in the context of abstinence tests. For EtS, 0.05 mg/l were found to be a potential cutoff to exclude the repeated intake of alcohol. Yet, further research is required to verify this cutoff. For a limited time period, EtG and EtS concentrations within the range of these cutoffs are also detectable after unintentional consumption of alcohol. Participants of abstinence programs have to be informed about the alcohol content of certain foods and beverages whose consumption is in conflict with strict abstinence.
Asunto(s)
Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/orina , Intoxicación Alcohólica/rehabilitación , Intoxicación Alcohólica/orina , Alcoholismo/rehabilitación , Alcoholismo/orina , Etanol/toxicidad , Glucuronatos/orina , Detección de Abuso de Sustancias/métodos , Síndrome de Abstinencia a Sustancias/orina , Ésteres del Ácido Sulfúrico/orina , Adulto , Biomarcadores/orina , Pruebas Respiratorias , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Templanza , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
AIMS: Various studies have shown that plasma homocysteine (HCY) serum levels are elevated in actively drinking alcohol-dependent patients a during alcohol withdrawal, while rapidly declining during abstinence. Hyperhomocysteinemia has been associated not only with blood alcohol concentration (BAC), but also with deficiency of different B-vitamins, particularly folate, pyridoxine and cobalamin. METHODS: Our study included 168 inpatients (110 men, 58 women) after admission for detoxification treatment. BAC, folate, cobalamin, pyridoxine, thiamine and riboflavin were obtained on admission (Day 1). HCY was assessed on Days 1, 7 and 11. RESULTS: HCY levels significantly declined during withdrawal. General linear models and linear regression analysis showed an influence of BAC, folate and riboflavin on the HCY levels on admission as well as on HCY changes occurring during alcohol withdrawal. No significant influence was found for thiamine, cobalamin and pyridoxine. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that not only BAC and plasma folate levels, but also plasma levels of riboflavin influence HCY plasma levels in alcohol-dependent patients.
Asunto(s)
Alcoholismo/metabolismo , Depresores del Sistema Nervioso Central/efectos adversos , Etanol/efectos adversos , Homocisteína/metabolismo , Hiperhomocisteinemia/etiología , Síndrome de Abstinencia a Sustancias/metabolismo , Adulto , Anciano , Alcoholismo/sangre , Depresores del Sistema Nervioso Central/sangre , Etanol/sangre , Femenino , Ácido Fólico/sangre , Ácido Fólico/metabolismo , Deficiencia de Ácido Fólico/complicaciones , Homocisteína/sangre , Humanos , Modelos Lineales , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Piridoxina/sangre , Piridoxina/deficiencia , Piridoxina/metabolismo , Riboflavina/sangre , Riboflavina/metabolismo , Síndrome de Abstinencia a Sustancias/sangre , Tiamina/sangre , Tiamina/metabolismo , Vitamina B 12/sangre , Vitamina B 12/metabolismo , Deficiencia de Vitamina B 12/complicacionesRESUMEN
Due to a lack of reference blood concentrations in the literature, the forensic evaluation of prothipendyl findings in blood samples is difficult. Interpretations with regard to the assessment of blood concentrations as well as an estimation of the ingested prothipendyl amounts were often vague. To describe a concentration range in clinical samples, prothipendyl and prothipendyl sulfoxide concentrations were determined in serum samples of 50 psychiatric patients receiving 40 mg, 80 mg, or 160 mg doses of prothipendyl. The analyses of prothipendyl and prothipendyl sulfoxide were carried out using validated methods of high performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-QQQ-MS), respectively. 40 mg doses caused average prothipendyl serum concentrations of 18.0 ng/mL (1 hour after intake) and 7.9 ng/mL (10.5 hours after intake), while 80 mg doses caused averages of 42.6 ng/mL and 15.2 ng/mL at the mentioned times of sampling. Irrespective of the given dose, prothipendyl concentrations below 30 ng/mL were observed in 80% of the patient samples taken 1 hour after ingestion as well as in 90% of the samples collected 10.5 hours after administration. Serum concentrations of the Phase I metabolite prothipendyl sulfoxide averaged 4.3 ng/mL (1 hour after intake) and 3.6 ng/mL (10.5 hours after intake). Possible drug-drug interactions regarding absorption and metabolism of prothipendyl are discussed. Results of the herein presented study are useful for the interpretation of analytical prothipendyl findings in forensic toxicology. The utility of the described concentration range is demonstrated by discussing two death cases involving prothipendyl findings.
Asunto(s)
Sulfóxidos/sangre , Tiazinas/sangre , Adulto , Antipsicóticos/sangre , Antipsicóticos/farmacocinética , Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Presión , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Femenino , Toxicología Forense/métodos , Humanos , Masculino , Valores de Referencia , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem , Tiazinas/farmacocinética , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Recent studies have shown that smoking and alcoholism may be associated with altered DNA methylation and that alcohol consumption might induce changes in DNA methylation by altering homocysteine metabolism. In this monocenter study, we included 363 consecutive patients referred for hospitalization for alcohol detoxification treatment. Blood samples were obtained on treatment days 1, 3, and 7 for measurement of global DNA methylation in leukocytes by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Genomic DNA was used for genotyping the following seven genetic variants of homocysteine metabolism: cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) c.844_855ins68, dihydrofolate-reductase (DHFR) c.594 + 59del19bp, methylenetetrahydrofolate-reductase (MTHFR) c.677C > T and c.1298A > C, methyltetrahydrofolate-transferase (MTR) c.2756A > G, reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1) c.80G > A, and transcobalamin 2 c.776C > G. Multivariate linear regression showed a positive correlation of global DNA methylation with alcohol consumption and smoking on day 1 of hospitalization. DNA methylation was not correlated with homocysteine or vitamin plasma levels, nor with the tested genetic variants of homocysteine metabolism. This suggests a direct effect of alcohol consumption and smoking on DNA methylation, which is not mediated by effects of alcohol on homocysteine metabolism.