ABSTRACT
Introduction: Recently Liver enzymes have gained popularityamong researchers regarding their potential role in the fieldof diagnosis of metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetesand cardiovascular diseases. Studies done in past havedocumented the presence of GGT in atheromatous plaquesof established cases of coronary artery diseases. Also GGTlevels are put to assess the prognosis of patients suffering fromcardiovascular events like myocardial infarction, stroke, etc.Scientific community lacks sufficient data on levels of GGT atthe stage of primordial and primary prevention. The study wasconducted with an aim to establish an association betweenGGT levels and metabolic syndrome in subjects havingnormal liver function. Also, the study has evaluated the role ofGGT as a diagnostic biomarker of metabolic syndrome.Material and methods: In the present study, 120 subjects wereenrolled out of which 60 were having metabolic syndrome and60 were normal individuals. We have measured the levels ofGGT in subjects of metabolic syndrome and compared themwith normal individuals.All the subjects enrolled in the studyhad normal liver function test.Results: We found a significant difference in levels of SerumGGT in subjects with and without metabolic syndrome (p-value<0.001).On ROC analysis, Among other liver enzymes, GGTshowed the maximum area under the curve, and a sensitivityof 61.1%, a specificity of 69.8% in the diagnosis of metabolicsyndrome.Conclusion: Liver enzymes assay is simple yet sensitiveand cheap test to diagnose the cases of Metabolic Syndrome,more than that their role in development and progression ofatherosclerosis, make GGT, a potential biomarker for riskstratification of subjects for cardiovascular diseases.
ABSTRACT
Alcoholism is a serious health issue with major socioeconomic consequences. Significant morbidity is related to chronic alcohol use, and alcoholics seek advice only when complications of drinking set in. The diagnosis is often based on patients self-reporting of alcohol consumption, which is unreliable and requires high degree of clinical suspicion. However, if alcohol problems are recognized at an early stage, the physician may be able to prevent their further development and progression. The present study compares the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) with other traditional biochemical markers in alcohol abuse patients and healthy controls. It is a prospective study, and 40 cases and 30 controls were evaluated for biochemical parameters over a period of one year. The study revealed MCV to be possessing 87.5% sensitivity, 83.33% specificity, 87.5% of positive predictive value, 48.39% of negative predictive value and 54.29% of diagnostic accuracy, which makes it a reliable marker. The mean gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations in alcohol dependent subjects were higher as compared to controls. Though clinical histories and questionnaires are the commonest initial means of detection of alcohol abuse, laboratory markers such as MCV should be used for confirming the diagnosis of alcohol abuse. They are also helpful in follow-up of patients undergoing treatment, and monitoring of abstinence