The presence of 2,3-butanediol in the blood of chronic alcoholics admitted to an alcohol treatment center.

Fifty-one of sixty-three unselected alcoholic subjects had 2,3-butanediol in their blood in concentrations ranging from 0.011 to 0.775 mM upon admission to an alcohol detoxification center. The concentration of 2,3-butanediol was below the detection limit of 0.01 mM in twelve non-alcoholic controls. Eighteen hours after admission, second blood samples showed no ethanol in all eleven subjects tested. 2,3-Butanediol levels declined in all of the patients and became undetectable in eight.