Liver gamma-glutamyltransferase activity in viral liver disease

gamma-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity was determined in serum and liver tissue obtained by needle biopsy in 104 patients with viral hepatic disease. The liver GGT activity in these patients was significantly greater than that in the controls. The tissue GGT activity was also significantly greater in the patients with chronic persistent hepatitis than in the patients with acute viral hepatitis or posthepatitic cirrhosis. The serum and tissue GGTs in the patients with non-A, non-B chronic active hepatitis were significantly greater than those in the patients with B-related chronic active hepatitis. The increased serum GGT is due to the synthesis of the enzyme in liver tissue and its release in viral hepatic disease.