Increased serum gamma‐glutamyl‐transpeptidase concentration is associated with nonalcoholic steatosis and not with cholestasis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

Increased serum gammaGT level in patients with chronic hepatitis C is associated with liver steatosis and fibrosis, and indicates more advanced liver disease rather than reflecting the cholestasis that often accompanies this condition.

Intrahepatic cholestasis in common chronic liver diseases

“…In contrast, γ‐GT serum levels were not correlated with the presence of bile duct damage in 201 patients with chronic HCV infection , but increased γ‐GT levels were associated with more advanced liver disease. Similarly, a significant association with increased γ‐GT activities and hepatic fibrosis was reported from another study but no association with serum bile acid concentrations or with histological cholestasis scores was found . These studies suggest that increased γ‐GT levels may reflect more advanced liver disease rather than intrahepatic cholestasis exclusively.…”

Association between Gamma-Glutamyltransferase Levels and Insulin Resistance According to Alcohol Consumption and Number of Cigarettes Smoked

“…Many studies have shown that serum GGT is a biomarker of increased alcohol consumption [1][2][3][4]22) ; however, GGT is known to be affected by other con- 23,24) . Evidence is accumulating that higher serum GGT levels may be associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular events 5) , metabolic syndrome and diabetes 8,25,26) ; therefore, more attention has been paid recently to this liver enzyme.…”

Factors associated with steatosis in liver biopsies of individuals with chronic hepatitis C infection in southern Brazil

“…Benini et al found that increased serum GGT levels in patients with chronic HCV were associated with hepatic steatosis and fibrosis with higher scores [13]. Silva et al showed an association between high GGT levels and higher fibrosis scores but did not find an association with liver steatosis [14].…”

“…We identified higher GGT values in patients with liver steatosis in the univariate analysis but not in the multivariate analysis. Benini et al demonstrated a correlation between increased serum GGT levels and liver steatosis and fibrosis associated with more advanced stages of liver disease [13], which defines GGT as a marker of liver damage induced metabolically [15].…”