Ethyl glucuronide

Ethyl glucuronide
Pharmacokinetic data
Elimination half-life	~2–3 hours
Identifiers
	IUPAC name (2S,3S,4S,5R)-6-Ethoxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid;
CAS Number	913255-98-8 ; 1776950-35-6 (α); 17685-04-0 (β);
PubChem CID	152226;
ChemSpider	134174 ;
UNII	CV2CWP5YT2;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID00904317 ;
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C8H14O7
Molar mass	222.193 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
	SMILES CCOC1[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O1)C(=O)O)O)O)O;
	InChI InChI=1S/C8H14O7/c1-2-14-8-5(11)3(9)4(10)6(15-8)7(12)13/h3-6,8-11H,2H2,1H3,(H,12,13)/t3-,4-,5+,6-,8?/m0/s1 ; Key:IWJBVMJWSPZNJH-XWBUKDKVSA-N ;
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Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a metabolite of ethanol which is formed in the body by glucuronidation following exposure to ethanol, usually from drinking alcoholic beverages. It is used as a biomarker to test for ethanol use and to monitor alcohol abstinence in situations where drinking is prohibited, such as by the military, in alcohol treatment programs, in professional monitoring programs (health professionals, attorneys, airline pilots in recovery from addictions), in schools, liver transplant clinics, or in recovering alcoholic patients.^[1]^[2] In addition to its use to monitor abstinence and detect drinking, EtG also has potential for monitoring the amount of alcohol use over time because it can be detected in hair and nails, though the effectiveness of this has not yet been proven.^[3]^[4]

A disadvantage of the test is that because EtG can be detected in samples at very low levels, it can also be positive after exposure to alcohol from non-beverage sources, or incidental exposure, which can lead to false positives. The sources of possible exposure in the environment are numerous and include alcohol in mouthwash, foods, over-the-counter medications, and even from inhalation of alcohol from topical use. It is impossible with this biomarker to distinguish small amounts of drinking from extraneous exposure to alcohol. ^[5]

^ Lande RG, Marin B (2009). "Biomarker characteristics of alcohol use in the U.S. Army". Journal of Addictive Diseases. 28 (2): 158–63. doi:10.1080/10550880902772506. PMID 19340678.
^ Concheiro M, Cruz A, Mon M, de Castro A, Quintela O, Lorenzo A, López-Rivadulla M (April 2009). "Ethylglucuronide determination in urine and hair from alcohol withdrawal patients". Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 33 (3): 155–61. doi:10.1093/jat/33.3.155. PMID 19371464.
^ Wurst FM, Skipper GE, Weinmann W (December 2003). "Ethyl glucuronide--the direct ethanol metabolite on the threshold from science to routine use". Addiction. 98. Suppl 2: 51–61. doi:10.1046/j.1359-6357.2003.00588.x. PMID 14984242.
^ Palmer RB (February 2009). "A review of the use of ethyl glucuronide as a marker for ethanol consumption in forensic and clinical medicine". Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology. 26 (1): 18–27. doi:10.1053/j.semdp.2008.12.005. PMID 19292025.
^ Rosano TG, Lin J (October 2008). "Ethyl glucuronide excretion in humans following oral administration of and dermal exposure to ethanol". Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 32 (8): 594–600. doi:10.1093/jat/32.8.594. PMID 19007508.

[pmid19340678-1] Lande RG, Marin B (2009). "Biomarker characteristics of alcohol use in the U.S. Army". Journal of Addictive Diseases. 28 (2): 158–63. doi:10.1080/10550880902772506. PMID 19340678.

[pmid19371464-2] Concheiro M, Cruz A, Mon M, de Castro A, Quintela O, Lorenzo A, López-Rivadulla M (April 2009). "Ethylglucuronide determination in urine and hair from alcohol withdrawal patients". Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 33 (3): 155–61. doi:10.1093/jat/33.3.155. PMID 19371464.

[pmid14984242-3] Wurst FM, Skipper GE, Weinmann W (December 2003). "Ethyl glucuronide--the direct ethanol metabolite on the threshold from science to routine use". Addiction. 98. Suppl 2: 51–61. doi:10.1046/j.1359-6357.2003.00588.x. PMID 14984242.

[pmid19292025-4] Palmer RB (February 2009). "A review of the use of ethyl glucuronide as a marker for ethanol consumption in forensic and clinical medicine". Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology. 26 (1): 18–27. doi:10.1053/j.semdp.2008.12.005. PMID 19292025.

[pmid19007508-5] Rosano TG, Lin J (October 2008). "Ethyl glucuronide excretion in humans following oral administration of and dermal exposure to ethanol". Journal of Analytical Toxicology. 32 (8): 594–600. doi:10.1093/jat/32.8.594. PMID 19007508.

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