Increased Carbohydrate-deficient Transferrin of Unknown Etiology in a 15-Year-Old Male Patient with Autoimmune Hepatitis Type 1

Carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) is currently the most specific laboratory marker of chronic alcohol abuse (1). We report a 15-year-old boy with autoimmune hepatitis type 1, increased serum CDT, and no history of alcohol abuse. The case is particularly important because patients in the early phase of autoimmune hepatitis may be asymptomatic. The diagnostic criteria for autoimmune hepatitis (2), which were used for our patient, are summarized together with the patient’s data in the Data Supplement that accompanies the online version of this letter at http://www.clinchem.org/content/vol49/issue6/. The patient was admitted for evaluation of icterus ∼1 week in duration, decreased performance, and fatigue for ∼6 months. He had mild splenomegaly, and biopsy revealed developing micronodular cirrhosis. The patient’s denial of alcohol intake was confirmed by his mother and by AUDIT (3) and MALT-F scores (4). One week before admission, the patient had herpes zoster treated successfully with Zovirax (orally) …