Frequency of Laboratory Abnormalities in Older and Younger Alcoholic Inpatients
| |
|
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)*
|
213
|
- 71
|
123
|
57
|
|
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)†
|
213
|
44
|
124
|
17
|
|
Aspartate aminotransferase serum (AST)‡
|
214
|
56
|
123
|
42
|
|
Gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT)‡
|
123
|
55
|
101
|
48
|
|
Albumin‡
|
186
|
17
|
115
|
3
|
|
Alkaline phosphatase‡
|
213
|
11
|
123
|
15
|
|
Glucose§
|
206
|
32
|
124
|
36
|
|
Phosphorus||
|
198
|
9
|
124
|
11
|
|
Triglycerides¶
|
191
|
16
|
122
|
19
|
|
Uric acid**
|
201
|
21
|
123
|
<1
|
Source: Adapted from Hurt, R.D.; Finlayson, R.E.; Morse, R.M.; et al. Alcoholism in elderly persons: Medical aspects and prognosis of 216 inpatients. Mayo Clinic Proceedings 1988, 63(8):753-760.
*Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) measures the amount of hemoglobin in an average cell.
†Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) measures the volume of red blood cells.
‡Liver function tests:
- The purpose of the AST test is to detect a recent myocardial infarction (heart attack), to aid detection and differential diagnosis of acute liver disease, and to monitor patient progress and prognosis in heart and liver diseases.
- The purpose of the GGT test is to provide information about hepatobiliary diseases, to assess liver function, and to detect alcohol ingestion. Another purpose is to distinguish between skeletal disease and hepatic disease when serum alkaline phosphatase is elevated. A normal GGT level suggests such elevation stems from skeletal disease. Albumin is a major component of plasma proteins, influenced by nutritional state, hepatic function, renal function, and various diseases.
- Serum albumin gives an indication of severity in chronic liver disease.
- Alkaline phosphatase is a liver enzyme; an elevated level can indicate obstruction to the biliary system.
§Glucose: This is a measure of the sugar level in blood. High values may be associated with diabetes and liver disease, which may be related to alcohol; decreased values may be associated with alcoholism.
||Phosphorus is an element required for bone growth and metabolic energy. It is stored in teeth and bones, mainly in combination with calcium. Phosphorus blood levels are affected by parathyroid, blood, and bone diseases. An increase can be associated with kidney failure, which can be related to alcohol; a decrease may be associated with alcoholism.
¶Triglyceride is fat in the blood that, if elevated, has been associated with heart disease. High triglycerides are also associated with pancreatitis. Alcohol can be converted into fats that can be dumped into the bloodstream. Even small amounts of alcohol can lead to large changes in plasma triglyceride levels.
**Uric acid is the end product of purine metabolism (purines are building blocks of RNA and DNA). Most uric acid produced in the body is excreted by the kidneys. Increased levels of uric acid can cause gout, a metabolic disease. Symptoms include painful inflammation of the joints and deposits of urates (salts of uric acid) in and around the joints.