Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41710972›Full record

ArticleAddiction (Abingdon, England)2026

Decline of phosphatidylethanol (B-PEth) during abstinence in patients with alcohol use disorder undergoing withdrawal treatment, and the correlation of B-PEth with self-reported alcohol intake.

Andrea de Bejczy, Lisa Walther, Cecilia Nilsson-Wallmark, Barbro Askerup, Anders Isaksson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Andrea de BejczyAddiction Biology Unit, Psychiatry and Neurochemistry Section, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2858-1524
Lisa WaltherDivision of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Cecilia Nilsson-WallmarkAddiction Biology Unit, Psychiatry and Neurochemistry Section, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Barbro AskerupAddiction Biology Unit, Psychiatry and Neurochemistry Section, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Anders IsakssonDivision of Clinical Chemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Funding

Region Västra Götaland ALF 75320Swedish State
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimAccurately estimating alcohol consumption is crucial for clinical decision-making and monitoring treatment outcomes. Phosphatidylethanol in blood (B-PEth), a direct alcohol biomarker, is currently the most reliable indicator of alcohol intake, with a detection window of several weeks; however, the factors influencing the decline of B-PEth levels remain largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the decline of B-PEth levels during abstinence in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) undergoing withdrawal treatment.

methodA total of 100 patients were recruited in withdrawal treatment and followed during three to four weeks of abstinence. Blood samples were collected at baseline and weekly during abstinence to measure B-PEth levels of two homologues (16:0/18:1 and 16:0/18:2). Self-reported alcohol consumption was documented using the Timeline Followback (TLFB) method for 30 days before abstinence and throughout the study period.

resultsB-PEth elimination followed first-order kinetics. The mean half-life was 7.24 days [95% confidence interval (CI) = 6.98-7.53] for 16:0/18:1 and 4.55 days (95% CI = 4.44-4.67) for 16:0/18:2. The rate of decline varied by week, with a longer half-life observed in week three compared with week one. No statistically significant sex differences were detected. The strongest correlation between B-PEth levels and self-reported alcohol consumption was found for data from two weeks prior to abstinence.

conclusionElimination of phosphatidylethanol in blood (B-Peth) follows first-order kinetics, with homologue 16:0/18:1 exhibiting a longer half-life than 16:0/18:2. The rate of decline is influenced by the week of alcohol abstinence and B-PEth levels are detectable even in the fourth week of abstinence. The strongest correlation between B-PEth and self-reported alcohol consumption is at two weeks prior to abstinence.

Indexed as

Alcohol AbstinenceAlcohol DrinkingAlcoholismGlycerophospholipidsSubstance Withdrawal SyndromeAdultBiomarkersFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSelf ReportBiomarkersGlycerophospholipidsphosphatidylethanolabstinencealcoholalcohol biomarkeralcohol use disorder (AUD)alcohol withdrawaldeclineeliminationhalf‐lifephosphatidylethanol (B‐PEth)

Identifiers

PMID41710972
PMCPMC13155280

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.