HEMOGLOBIN-ACETALDEHYDE ADDUCTS IN HUMAN VOLUNTEERS FOLLOWING ACUTE ETHANOL INGESTION

Rabbit antibodies against albumin‐acetaldehyde adduct were used in an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay to detect acetaldehyde‐hemoglobin condensates from the blood of 12 volunteers following ingestion of 1.3 to 2.9 g of ethanol per kg body weight during 8 hr. Blood samples were drawn before drinking and between 2 to 46 hr after starting the drinking session. While there were no significant increases in blood acetaldehyde levels in these samples, acetaldehyde‐hemoglobin adducts were significantly increased in the samples drawn after ethanol had been eliminated from the body. Administration of ethanol (0.1 g/kg) to an Oriental flusher resulted in an increase both in blood acetaldehyde and the hemoglobin‐acetaldehyde adduct levels. These results suggest that acetaldehyde‐hemoglobin condensates are formed in vivo following acute ethanol ingestion. Such condensates may be of value to mark alcohol consumption. Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved