1. < Transplants

Positive PEth in a non-drinker

Posted by kpm @kpm, May 7, 2022

My husband has NALD which has turned to cirrhosis. Last May his MELD score reached 15, meaning time get on a transplant list. During the process we were shocked to find out his blood work came back with a high PEth score and continues to do so. He does not consume any alcohol whatsoever!!! We need help desperately as to what could be going on with his body to cause this. We are now going for a 2nd opinion as we thought he would be sent to some type of specialist to determine what's causing alcohol to present in his blood work and instead they only want to continue with the blood test. We have even asked that he be hospitalized to determine what's going on. We realize that doctors get lied to all the time, but it's now fair to punish someone that has something unexplainable going on. If alcohol were causing the issue - we would have numerous ways to deal with the problem. But again he doesn't drink anything alcoholic. Desperate for answers - can anyone help.

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jimdandy1 | @jimdandy1 | Mar 20, 2023
In reply to @rosemarya "@jimdandy1, I want to welcome both you and your wife to Connect. The rules and requirements..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@jimdandy1, I want to welcome both you and your wife to Connect.
The rules and requirements are rigid and all transplant centers must adhere strictly to all of the requirements in order to best assure a successful organ transplant with a lifetime of adherence to rules and restrictions. I am sad to hear of this particular incident that you have experienced.

It is not entirely unusual for patients to be turned away, until certain individual requirements are met.
Is there any possibility that rehab or counseling is an option for your wife? Have you discussed this with a social worker?

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Thanks for commenting, my wife has completed a alcohol & substance abuse counseling and has a therapist, I know that there has to be an error on test or something else causing the positive PEth test. She did have a one day relapse in early December, and that is the last time she had anything to drink. I know this because since then we've been together since pretty much 24/7. And that's something I can tell if she has relapsed from years of experience living with her. I just want to find out what else is causing it. I did some research and found that there could be from alcohol swab when cleaning the area where needle is inserted for blood draw.

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myfablife | @myfablife | Mar 20, 2023
In reply to @jimdandy1 "My wife was at Mayo for check up for alcoholic liver disease. One of the tests..." + (show)
@jimdandy1

My wife was at Mayo for check up for alcoholic liver disease. One of the tests was a PEth test . somehow she had a positive result. I know that she hasn't had a drink since early December when she had a 1 day relapse. The test was on the 2nd of March. I'm baffled? I read that hand sanitizer can cause this, is that true? The Mayo committee dismissed her from ever being able to continue at Mayo. Is there anyone else with this issue?

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Do you know what her results are /the number they gave u.

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jimdandy1 | @jimdandy1 | Mar 20, 2023
In reply to @myfablife "Do you know what her results are /the number they gave u." + (show)
@myfablife

Do you know what her results are /the number they gave u.

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Yes it was a 80 ng which equals 2 plus drink's a day for several days. According to the explanation that's in parentheses next to value. And I can tell you 100percent that she hasn't had any alcohol. Very baffled?

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myfablife | @myfablife | Mar 20, 2023

Yes it is. I wish that I could help u out w/answers to this. I hope Mayo is not going to give up on your wife.
Wishing u both the best and most of all some answers.

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jimdandy1 | @jimdandy1 | Mar 20, 2023
In reply to @myfablife "Yes it is. I wish that I could help u out w/answers to this. I hope..." + (show)
@myfablife

Yes it is. I wish that I could help u out w/answers to this. I hope Mayo is not going to give up on your wife.
Wishing u both the best and most of all some answers.

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Thanks Godspeed

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jimdandy1 | @jimdandy1 | Mar 22, 2023

If you find out what is causing the positive PEth test, could you please send me a email, because my wife is having the same problem. But she is a alcoholic, although she has been sober for a while. She slipped up once in October and once in early December of 2022. Her test was on March 02, 2023. Very baffled?

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myfablife | @myfablife | Mar 23, 2023

Is your wife needing a TP are they trying to help u w/this as to why. I am curious what they say to u all when u tell them your spouse’s have not been drinking!
I am baffled for u all. I hope u get answers soon.

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jovanna | @jovanna | Mar 23, 2023
In reply to @kpm "I did read most of the information on the link you sent - some of it..." + (show)
@kpm

I did read most of the information on the link you sent - some of it no longer available due to how long it's been since posted.
He does not take any medication that contains alcohol or ethanol, so far the request to be hospitalized has not been accepted.
My brain has been all over the place - have thought about contacting news media for help or even possibly hiring a lawyer - we don't want a settlement - only answers to what's causing to show alcohol on his medical test and then hopefully we can move forward with the transplant.
It has been quite traumatizing for both of us. I refuse to give up and will keep fighting until we have some answers.
We have spoken with numerous people and searched the internet and no one has ever heard of anything like this.

Jump to this post

How about tooth paste or very common product, mouthwash? Non alcohol beer and wine still have trace amounts also. Hope you get to the root of the problem. Check ingredient lists on all food sources he is using also

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John | @johnnoregon | Mar 23, 2023

I'm wondering maybe a EtG test caused the result? I did them concurrent with PEth's for 2 years while on the transplant list. An EtG test is a urine test (stands for ethyl glucuronide). I seem to recall the NIH states this test is subject to false positives. Anything containing alcohol - hand sanitizers, anything fermented, even some food products with vinegar may cause a positive. You don't have to drink it - topical applications count. I was kicked of the list and had to continue weekly testing, all the way raising cain with them. Every Monday, I dreaded getting the results. This is zero help but it sure resonates with me.

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1 reply
kpm | @kpm | Mar 24, 2023
In reply to @jimdandy1 "Yes it was a 80 ng which equals 2 plus drink's a day for several days...." + (show)
@jimdandy1

Yes it was a 80 ng which equals 2 plus drink's a day for several days. According to the explanation that's in parentheses next to value. And I can tell you 100percent that she hasn't had any alcohol. Very baffled?

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My husband's are always in the high 800 to 900 range and he does not consume any alcohol whatsoever and has never been an alcoholic as I stated before if you do have an alcohol problem there are multiple things that could be addressed to help.
We are still fighting to get my husband listed and have recently spoken with a lawyer. There has to be some way with all of the medical advances to determine the reason his blood shows alcohol. We have two doctors (not from the transplant team) supporting us as well. We will not give up the fight for him to have fair treatment and prayerfully the medical field will somehow determine what's going on.

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