A new study from Australian researchers has found that a special type of blood test can accurately detect alcohol use in people who have liver disease.
This test works much better than older tests or simply asking patients if they’ve been drinking. It could help doctors make better decisions about treatment and liver transplants.
Liver disease is becoming a major health problem in Australia. About one in three people are affected.
While drinking too much alcohol is a common cause, many people also develop liver problems because of other things, like being overweight, having hepatitis, or having autoimmune diseases. For doctors to help these patients, they need to know whether the patient is still drinking alcohol.
The study was published in the journal Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research. It looked at how well a blood test that checks for a substance called phosphatidylethanol (or PEth) could spot alcohol use. PEth is only made in the body when someone drinks alcohol, so it is a very clear sign that alcohol was consumed.
The study involved 183 people, including people with liver problems caused by alcohol, people with alcohol use disorder, and healthy people. Each person reported how much alcohol they had consumed. Then, the researchers compared their answers to their PEth test results and other standard alcohol tests.
The PEth test was 95% accurate at detecting whether someone had been drinking. It was also able to show how much the person drank. If someone had a PEth level of 300 micrograms per liter, that usually meant they were drinking heavily. If the level was 600 or more, it meant they were drinking very heavily.
One surprising result was that more than one-third of the people who said they hadn’t been drinking actually had PEth levels that showed they had. This shows that people may not always be honest about their alcohol use, or they may forget how much they drank. That’s why a reliable test like this is so important.
Professor Devanshi Seth, one of the lead researchers, said that PEth testing is especially useful because it can detect alcohol use for up to five weeks. Other tests or self-reports may not be as reliable over that time. She explained that PEth is a “biochemical signature” of alcohol use and offers a clear and accurate way to monitor drinking habits.
Dr. Anastasia Volovets, a specialist in liver transplants, said this test could be very important for deciding whether someone is ready for a liver transplant.
People who drink alcohol may not always report it honestly, especially if they are worried about being removed from the transplant list. This new test helps doctors see the full picture so they can make the best decision for each patient.
This new blood test is already being introduced at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s Liver Transplant Unit. The researchers hope it will be used more widely in liver clinics and transplant programs across Australia.
By using PEth testing, doctors can better understand their patients’ alcohol use, which helps them plan treatment and increase the chances of a successful transplant. This study highlights the power of using science to improve healthcare decisions and outcomes.
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