Jonathan -
The rate of decrease of GGT after people stop drinking is quoted as 25 days
but looking at the original papers shows it is quite variable.
Experimentally, between 5 and 17 days, but longer in alcoholics and
particularly in those with established liver disease. (See Crit Rev Clin
Lab Sci 2001;38 page 297)
In practice, if the GGT hasn't normalised after eight months then something
is wrong; the difficulty is in knowing what. The suggestion of CDT
measurement (if available) is a good one, but even that's not 100%
sensitive for excessive drinking.
Incidentally, if someone has a high GGT they are at increased risk for
cardiovascular disease and diabetes - perhaps not the best for a HGV
driver?
John
John Whitfield
Clinical Biochemistry
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Sydney, Australia
Phone (+61) 2 9515 5246
Fax (+61) 2 9515 7931
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-----Original Message-----
From: Jonathan Kay [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, 7 November 2003 22:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: GGT and liver damage
I received this from a GP.
1 How strongly would you pursue the line that it is probably due to
alcohol?
2 How fast would ggt decrease? I think it probably depends on the
extent of damage and how long the aggravating cause has been there...
I'll summarise and post the summary.
Thanks in advance
Jonathan
> Dear Jonathan
> I've got a patient who has applied for an HGV licence, requiring him
> to have
> not had evidence of alcohol abuse in the last 6months.
> He had a ggt of 203 in March, 105 now, says he doesn't drink more than
> 14units a week (never more than 20), has a blood alcohol<1 too.
> He also says that the family, like him overweight, all have 'fatty
> livers.'
>
> his NHS number is xxx if you want to look him up dob xxx.
>
> How quickly would a ggt come down if someone stopped drinking
> altogether and
> is his story at all convincing?
> All the best
> xxx
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