Role of Enzyme Gamma Glutamyl Transferase in Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome in Subjects with Normal Liver Function

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.