Serum Gamma Glutamyltransferase (GGT) in coronary artery disease: Exploring the Asian Indian Connection.

Background: There is a need to identify novel markers for CAD, independent of traditional CV risk factors. One of these is gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), a marker of increased oxidative stress. Given the high prevalence of CAD in Asian Indians, the link of GGT and CAD in them needs to be studied. Aim: To assess GGT in patients with angiographically documented CAD. Methods and Results: Two hundred patients aged 58.1 ± 9.95 years, 73% males, hypertension 56%, diabetes 40% were included. Mean GGT was 63.6 ± 44.33 (10-269 U/L). The levels of GGT progressively increased in those with single/double or triple-vessel CAD (36.5, 61.5, and 87 U/L, respectively, P < 0.001). Using objective criteria of CAD burden (SYNTAX and Gensini scores), we reaffirmed these findings. GGT in patients with SYNTAX tertiles 0-22, 23-32, and ≥ 33 was 33, 62, and 97 U/L, respectively and in Gensini tertiles 0-17.65, 17.66-56.65, ≥56.66 was 32, 52, and 88 U/L, respectively, all P < 0.001. SYNTAX score ≥ 23 was present in only 23% patients in GGT tertile 1 (<41 U/L), whereas60% and 94% in GGT tertiles 2 and 3 had SYNTAX ≥ 23. Significant positive correlation was seen between GGT and SYNTAX (r = 0.634) and Gensini score (r = 0.772). Conclusions: In this study, GGT had an independent correlation with angiographic severity of CAD and SYNTAX and Gensini scores. Although the existing evidence seems biologically plausible, more studies are needed to explore the potential role of this inexpensive marker for predicting disease burden in patients with CAD.

The correlation between erectile dysfunction and metabolic syndrome in an Indian population: A cross-sectional observational study.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED), based on the five-item International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF-5), and presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) or its components based on Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. We also explored the impact of increasing insulin resistance (IR), as calculated using the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) equation, on severity of ED. Pathophysiological links between ED and testosterone were re-evaluated. Patients and methods: In all, 357 patients with ED were evaluated; 53 patients with primary, psychogenic, surgical, post-traumatic or drug-induced ED were excluded. The remaining 304 patients were evaluated after obtaining written informed consent. The Institutional Review Board approved the study. We assessed comorbidities, IIEF-5 scores, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) based on International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), blood sugars, lipid and hormonal profiles, and vitamin D3 levels. Further evaluation was done when indicated. Results: In all, 171 patients had MetS and 134 had pre-existing comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, 58; hypertension, 73; coronary artery disease, 13). The mean (SD) age was 44.6 (9.21) years and IIEF-5 score was 13.81 (3.17). ED severity was significantly correlated with presence of MetS. On multivariate analysis, there were significant correlations between ED and waist circumference, serum triglycerides, and fasting blood sugar. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between serum testosterone and IIEF-5 score (r = +0.292). The mean (SD) IR value (using the HOMA-IR formula) was 2.64 (2.87), which was statistically and negatively correlated with IIEF-5 scores (r = - 0.398). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that an IIEF-5 score of <14 predicted MetS and a HOMA-IR value of >2.1778 predicted MetS. Conclusion: MetS or its components were present in 56.25% of the patients. Therefore presence of ED merits further evaluation for presence of MetS. This may help to prevent catastrophic and life-threatening consequences of MetS. Abbreviations: BMI: body mass index; CRP: C-reactive protein; CVD: cardiovascular disease; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; DM: diabetes mellitus; ED: erectile dysfunction; FBS: fasting blood sugar; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; HOMA-IR- Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance; HTN: hypertension; IIEF-5: five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function; IR: insulin resistance; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; LUTS: lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; MetS: metabolic syndrome; NO: nitric oxide; OR: odds ratio; PPBS: post-prandial blood sugar; ROC: receiver operating characteristic; SBP: systolic blood pressure; TG: triglyceride; WC: waist circumference.