[Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in ischemic heart disease]

The blood plasma gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP) activity was studied in 133 patients with macrofocal myocardial infarction, in 40 patients with microfocal myocardial infarction, in 30 patients with angina pectoris, and in 75 patients with cardiosclerosis and congestive cardiac failure. The activity of the enzyme increased in most patients with macrofocal myocardial infarction and in less than half of those with microfocal myocardial infarction beginning with the 3rd or 4th day, reached maximum by the 6th to 8th day of the disease, and then returned to normal levels in various lengths of time. In all patients with angina pectoris and acute left-ventricular failure the activity of the enzyme remained normal. It may be assumed from the results of the study that determination of GGTP activity in dynamics may be mainly employed in the diagnosis of macrofocal myocardial infarction, particularly after the first days of the disease. The enzyme test is hardly suitable for differential diagnosis between microfocal myocardial infarction and angina pectoris.