State markers of alcoholism can be divided into (1) the indicators connected directly to ethanol metabolism and the substances involved in or by ethanol metabolism, and (2) the indicators that are not associated with actual blood alcohol concentrations, such as GGT, CDT, or MCV. Methanol, acetone and isopropanol belong to the first group. These substances were detected and proposed as alcoholism indicators in connection with congener alcohol analyses of blood samples from DWIs. Methanol, in particular, has been adopted as a powerful indicator of alcohol misuse. Levels greater than 10.0 mg/kg blood indicate, in most cases, addictive drinking of long duration. Acetone and isopropanol are bound by a redox-reaction. During the storage of blood samples, acetone can be altered to isopropanol. Therefore, it is reasonable to adopt the combination of acetone plus isopropanol as a new alcoholism indicator, with 9.0 mg/kg as the cut-off. Experiences with these volatile alcoholism indicators are reported in re-analysis of blood samples obtained from intoxicated drivers. (A)
Abstract