Increased concentration of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase in ischemic stroke patients

Stroke is responsible for the largest proportion of neurological disorders causing a significant morbidity. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) enzyme has an active involvement in atherosclerosis through its role in oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms. Recent evidence suggests that serum GGT is related to the risk and prognosis of cerebrovascular diseases.

A total of 200 patients (100 with acute ischemic stroke and 100 without stroke) were recruited from various medical wards and medical intensive care unit. Categorical variables were compared between two groups using Chi-squared test and odds ratio (OR). Independent sample t-test was used to see to compare mean GGT level of stroke patients with control.

There was no statistical difference with respect to distribution of age groups (χ ² = 1.25, P = 0.741) and gender (χ ² = 2.678, P = 0.1018) between cases and controls. Mean age of stroke patients (mean [M] = 61.7, standard deviation [SD] = 13.8) did not differ from controls (M = 62.2, SD = 13.6), P = 0.80. The odds of suffering from diabetes were significantly higher in stroke patients than cases (OR = 2.25, P = 0.005). Independent sample t-test found a significant difference in serum GGT level between cases (M = 57.47, SD = 11.8) and control (M = 41.72, SD = 7.5), P ≤ 0.0001.

Serum GGT was significantly higher in stroke patients than age-sex-matched nonstroke patients. Association remained significant in stroke patients irrespective of age, gender, and other risk factors. Stroke patients with diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and smoking had higher level serum GGT level than those without these risk factors. Prospective cohort studies can further explore the potential of GGT as a predictor of acute ischemic stroke.