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Hidden Alcohol Abuse Among Women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Kaija Seppä ,
Kari Löf ,
David Sinclair  and
Pekka Sillanaukee
Kaija Seppä*
Affiliation:
University of Tampere, Department of Public Health, Box 607, SF-33101 Tampere, Finland
Kari Löf
Affiliation:
Biomedical Research Center, Alko Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
David Sinclair
Affiliation:
Biomedical Research Center, Alko Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
Pekka Sillanaukee
Affiliation:
Biomedical Research Center, Alko Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Seven years ago the authors examined 64 consecutive female out-patients with macrocytosis (erythrocyte mean cell volume ⩾ 100 fl). The cause remained undetermined in 23 (35.9%). Their patient histories were evaluated in 1992, and the new highly specific alcohol marker, serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, from the frozen sera taken during the initial study was examined. It was elevated in 6 of the 23 women. Furthermore, four of these six had visited the health centre after 1985 and they all had clinical records indicative of alcohol problems. Because early intervention has proved to be effective, information about the risks of alcohol abuse (intervention) should be given to women with suspect alcohol-induced symptoms or signs.

Type
Short Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 164 , Issue 4 , April 1994 , pp. 544 - 546
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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