[A characteristic of alcoholics with the atypical aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2(2)--a relationship to other alcohol metabolizing enzymes].

Abstract

The series were composed of 59 alcoholics. All the subjects fulfilled the DSM-III-R criteria for alcohol dependency. We investigated the genotype at ALDH2. 6 patients were heterozygous ALDH2(1)/ALDH2(2). We determined the genotypes at ADH2, ADH3 and P-4502E1 about 6 patients. 5 patients had ADH2(1)/ADH2(1) allele. 2 patients had P-450E1*C2. We found a genetic characteristic about alcoholics with the heterozygous ALDH2(1)/ALDH2(2) allele.