ABSTRACT
Objective: To assess whether the level of γ-glutamyltransferase(GGT) correlates with severity and stability of coronary atherosclerosis and other established cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: According to the results of coronary angiography, 132 patients with coronary heart disease(CHD) were selected to the CHD group. These patients were further divided into subgroups according to the clinical types, the number of diseased coronary branches. They were devided into one-vessel, two-vessel or three-vessel disease on the basis of the number of diseased coronary branches; were devided into stable angina pectoris and acute coronary syndrome according to the clinical types. 30 patients without CHD were selected to the control group. The level of GGT, white blood cell (WBC) count, total bilirubin(TBiL), fasting plasma glucose(FPG), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride(TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL),glutamic-pyruvic transaminase(ALT), high sensitive C reactive protein(hs-CRP),systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), body mass index(BMI)were measured, and age, prior medical histories including hypertension? diabetes mellitus and smoking status were obtained. The level of GGT was compared statistically between the subgroups, and correlation coefficients of GGT level with other conventional risk factors for CHD were calculated. Results: The level of GGT in CHD patient was significantly higher than that in controls. The level of GGT increased with the increasing number of diseased coronary branches. No significant difference was found in the level of GGT between patients with acute coronary syndrome and stable angina pectoris. The level of GGT was positively correlated with TC, TG and LDL, weakly correlated with WBC count and FPG, not correlated with hs-CRP, negatively correlated with TBiL. HDL. Conclusion: The level of GGT is associated with pathological severity of coronary atherosclerosis and other established cardiovascular risk factors, though it is not associated with stability of pathological changes of the coronary artery. The plasma level of GGT may be an independent risk factor for CHD.