Optimal Cut-Points for Phosphatidylethanol Vary by Clinical Setting: Response to Nguyen and Seth's (2018) Letter to the Editor.

Abstract

In the letter by Nguyen et al. 2018, the authors raise several concerns in measuring PEth in critically ill patients, most notably that our calculated cut-points are higher than previously described that may in part be attributable to lower red cell volume in critically ill patients. We appreciate their comments and acknowledge substantial variability in the pathway of PEth synthesis and degradation, especially in more severely ill patients. However, we also believe substantial selection bias exists in the literature regarding PEth cut-point levels, and that additional consideration should be given to the phenotype of alcohol use among patients in various clinical settings. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.