Challenges of LC-MS/MS ethyl glucuronide analysis in abstinence monitoring of liver transplant candidates

摘要

Urinary ethyl glucuronide (EtG) has emerged as the biomarker of choice for alcohol abstinence monitoring in forensic toxicology and is now used in the listing decision process for liver transplantations (LTs) in the German transplant program. However, EtG analysis in this patient group is challenging due to severely impaired liver function, renal failure, co-morbidities and multidrug regimens. The aim of our study was to evaluate liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based EtG analysis for a precise abstinence monitoring in transplant candidates.