Is γ-glutamyl transferase activity a potential marker of left ventricular function during early postmyocardial
Amina Valjevac1, Alen Dzubur, Emina Nakas-Icindic
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Cekaluša 90, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina. amina.valjevac@mf.unsa.ba
Insights
Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels increase after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and correlate with cardiac dysfunction markers. This suggests GGT may predict left ventricular (LV) dilatation and dysfunction in early post-AMI patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is a known prognostic marker for cardiac events in coronary artery disease.
- Its role in the early stages following myocardial infarction (MI) remains less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical significance of GGT in the early post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) period.
- To explore the association between GGT and cardiac dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 40 AMI patients.
- GGT activity, lipids, uric acid, homocysteine (Hcy), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and left ventricular (LV) function were measured on admission and day 5.
- Statistical analysis included correlation and regression.
Main Results:
- On admission, GGT correlated with Hcy, uric acid, and CK-MB.
- GGT activity significantly increased by 77.7% post-AMI.
- On day 5, GGT correlated with LV dimensions and function (relative wall thickness, end-diastolic diameter, fractional shortening), hsCRP, and Hcy.
- LV end-diastolic diameter was independently associated with GGT on day 5.
Conclusions:
- GGT levels are associated with oxidative/inflammatory markers and LV diastolic diameter post-AMI.
- GGT may serve as a predictor of LV dilatation and dysfunction in the early phase after myocardial infarction.
Aim:
γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is an independent prognostic marker for cardiac death and reinfarction in patients with coronary artery disease, but its clinical significance during early postmyocardial infarction period is unclear.
Patients & Methods:
This short-term prospective study included 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in whom we determined GGT activity, lipids, uric acid, homocysteine (Hcy), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and left ventricular (LV) function on admission and on day 5 following AMI.
Results:
In AMI patients on admission, logGGT was associated with logHcy (r = 0.36), uric acid (r = 0.48) and CK-MB activity (r = -0.41). Uric acid remained an independent determinant of serum GGT activity on admission. Significant increase in GGT activity (77.7%) was observed following AMI. On day 5 serum logGGT was significantly associated with LV relative wall thickness (r = -0.37), LV end-diastolic diameter (r = 0.41) and LV fractional shortening (r = -0.36). In addition, a significant positive correlation was found between serum logGGT and loghsCRP (r = 0.41) and logHcy values (r = 0.395), but only LV end-diastolic diameter remained independently associated with serum GGT activity on day 5 following AMI.
Conclusion:
GGT is associated with oxidative/inflammatory markers and LV diastolic diameter suggesting its potential role in predicting LV dilatation and dysfunction during the early postmyocardial infarction period.
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