Work

Assessment of the Threshold Concentration of Ethyl Glucuronide in Hair for Diagnosing Chronic Alcohol use in Women: A Study in a Belarusian Clinical Cohort

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Aims: To determine the threshold concentration of Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) in hair for diagnosing chronic alcohol use in women. Methods: The study involved 15 alcohol-dependent women undergoing inpatient treatment for chronic alcohol use at the Grodno regional clinical center “Psychiatry-Narcology” (Belarus). The control group consisted of 15 moderately drinking representatives of the general population. The EtG level was assessed in the proximal 3-cm segment of scalp hair as per SoHT guidelines for alcohol marker detection. EtG concentration was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Results: At a threshold concentration of 38 pg/mg, the sensitivity, specificity, Positive Predictive Value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) of the result were 93%, 92%, 98%, 90%, respectively. Conclusion: EtG is a reliable biochemical marker of chronic alcohol use in women. The relatively small sample size is a limitation and should be considered when interpreting the findings.

Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine and Therapeutic Science

DOI: 10.17352/2455-3484.000057

Authors: YE Razvodovsky, AV Schuriberco

Institutions: National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Institute of Biochemistry of Biologically Active Compounds of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

Language: English

Topic: Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis

Subfield: Toxicology

Field: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4411160831