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Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase Activity as a Potential Novel Cardiovascular Biomarker in COPD
Fulsen Bozkus1, Nursel Dikmen2, Hatice Sahin2
1Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey. fulsenbatmaz@gmail.com.
Insights
Elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) levels indicate increased cardiovascular disease risk and severity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Higher gamma-GT correlates with more severe airflow limitation and oxidative stress in COPD patients.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pulmonology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) is a cell membrane enzyme recognized as a biomarker for inflammation, myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiac death.
- Its role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its association with cardiovascular disease (CVD) require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between serum gamma-GT levels and cardiovascular disease in subjects with COPD.
- To assess the correlation between serum gamma-GT levels and the degree of airflow limitation in COPD patients.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 152 subjects with COPD was divided into Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages A-B (n=70) and GOLD stages C-D (n=82).
- Serum levels of gamma-GT and C-reactive protein were measured and compared between the groups.
- Prevalence of cardiovascular disease was assessed in relation to GOLD stages and gamma-GT levels.
Main Results:
- Serum gamma-GT levels were significantly higher in the GOLD C-D group compared to the GOLD A-B group (P < .001).
- Cardiovascular disease prevalence was significantly higher in the GOLD C-D group (P < .001).
- Serum gamma-GT levels were substantially higher in COPD patients with coexisting cardiovascular disease (64 units/L) versus those without (17.5 units/L).
Conclusions:
- Serum gamma-GT levels may aid in grading COPD severity, potentially serving as a marker of oxidative stress.
- A strong correlation exists between elevated serum gamma-GT levels and cardiovascular events in individuals with COPD.
Background:
Gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) is an enzyme present in the cell membranes, which is used as a new biomarker in prediction of inflammation, myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiac death. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum levels of gamma-GT and cardiovascular disease in subjects with COPD and the correlation between serum gamma-GT level and degree of the limitation of air flow in COPD.
Methods:
A total of 70 subjects (46.1%) with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) A-B and normal function of the liver and biliary tract (mean age [IQR] 59 [51.75-70] y; 77.1% men) and 82 subjects (53.9%) with GOLD C-D (mean age [IQR] 59 [56-66] y; 79.3% men) participated. Serum levels of gamma-GT and C-reactive protein were measured and compared between the 2 groups.
Results:
The serum level of gamma-GT was found to be significantly (P < .001) higher in the GOLD stage C and D group than in the GOLD stage A and B group. Mean values of C-reactive protein, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was statistically significantly higher in subjects in the GOLD stage C and D group than in the GOLD stage A and B group (P < .001). The serum level of gamma-GT was higher in subjects with COPD with coexisting cardiovascular disease than in those without cardiovascular disease (64 units/L [interquartile range 57-72.5] vs 17.5 units/L [interquartile range 10-25]).
Conclusions:
Our results demonstrate that serum levels of gamma-GT may be helpful in grading the severity of COPD as the marker of oxidative stress, and there is a strong correlation between high serum levels of gamma-GT and cardiovascular events in subjects with COPD.
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