Association Between Serum Gamma-Glutamyltransferase Activity and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness

Abstract

Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity is a marker of oxidative stress and activity is associated with cardiovascular disease. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a noninvasive predictor of atherosclerosis. We investigated the association between serum GGT activity and carotid IMT. Fifty-five persons who had normal liver function tests were consecutively enrolled. Carotid IMT was evaluated in the right and left common carotid arteries. The averaged values of carotid IMT and serum GGT activity were compared. Serum GGT activity correlated with carotid IMT (r = .396, P = .003). Serum GGT activities were increased in patients with carotid intimal hyperplasia compared with those without intimal hyperplasia (20.3 ± 11.2 vs 34.3 ± 16.1 U/L; P = .001). Serum GGT activity is associated with carotid IMT. This finding supports the concept that elevated serum GGT activity is a marker of atherosclerosis.

Comparison of the Impact of Changes in Waist Circumference and Body Mass Index in Relation to Changes in Serum Gamma-Glutamyltransferase Levels

“…Recent studies have reported that gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is related to an enhanced risk for subclinical atherosclerosis and coronary events 1,2) .…”

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency and gamma-glutamyltransferase: An emerging relationship demonstrating inflammation and atherosclerosis

“…Shankar et al found a positive association be tween GGT level and peripheral arterial atherosclerosis (19). Moreover, se rum GGT activity was associated with carot id atherosclerosis (20).…”

Lack of association between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and carotid atherosclerosis: The Namwon study

“…Eroglu et al reported that serum GGT was associated with carotid IMT among 55 subjects who had normal liver function and suggested that GGT activity is a marker for atherosclerosis [10]. By contrast, among 548 subjects with hypertension and/or diabetes, no significant association between GGT levels and carotid IMT was found [11].…”

“…By contrast, among 548 subjects with hypertension and/or diabetes, no significant association between GGT levels and carotid IMT was found [11]. However, previous findings were limited because of small sample sizes, measurement of only the common carotid artery, failure to evaluate carotid plaques, and inclusion of subjects with CVD [10,11]. No study has reported an association between serum GGT and carotid plaques, which reflects the differences in the characteristics of the atherosclerotic process and IMT.…”

“…However, there is little evidence for an association between GGT and carotid atherosclerosis, an independent predictor of CVD. The findings of the few prior studies on the relationship between serum GGT and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) are inconsistent [10,11]. Furthermore, no study has reported an association between serum GGT and carotid plaques, which reflect different characteristics of the atherosclerotic process compared with IMT.…”