Document Detail


A review of the use of ethyl glucuronide as a marker for ethanol consumption in forensic and clinical medicine.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19292025     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a direct phase-II metabolite of ethanol formed through the UDP-glucuronosyl transferase catalyzed conjugation of ethanol with glucuronic acid. It has been detected in many antemortem and postmortem biological matrices using a variety of analytical methods. Due to its long urinary elimination time, detectability in hair, specificity for ethanol exposure, and low detection limits of assays, the use of EtG has been proposed as a marker of recent ethanol intake in a variety of clinical and legal settings, including medical monitoring for relapse, emergency department patient evaluation, postmortem assessments, and transportation accident investigation. However, challenges associated with factors such as establishing appropriate cut-off levels capable of distinguishing between drinking and nonbeverage sources of ethanol exposure, nonuniform laboratory reporting limits, sample stability, and microbial activity substantially complicate accurate interpretation of results. The following review briefly explores the history, utility, and limitations of EtG in contemporary medical and forensic practice.
Authors:
Robert B Palmer
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Seminars in diagnostic pathology     Volume:  26     ISSN:  0740-2570     ISO Abbreviation:  Semin Diagn Pathol     Publication Date:  2009 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-03-18     Completed Date:  2009-04-02     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8502262     Medline TA:  Semin Diagn Pathol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  18-27     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA. RPalmer@Toxicologyassoc.com
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Alcohol Drinking / blood*
Alcoholism / blood,  diagnosis
Biological Markers / blood*
Clinical Medicine / methods*
Ethanol / pharmacokinetics*
Female
Forensic Medicine / methods*
Glucuronates / blood*
Humans
Male
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Biological Markers; 0/Glucuronates; 17685-04-0/ethyl glucuronide; 64-17-5/Ethanol

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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