Association of gamma-glutamyl transferase with premature coronary artery disease

Accumulating evidence from epidemiological studies suggests that higher.-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels in the blood are associated with the incident of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including atherosclerosis, and have prognostic importance. However, to the best of our knowledge, the association of the GGT level with premature coronary artery disease (CAD) in an Asian Indian population has not been evaluated. In the present study, 240 (120 unaffected and 120 CAD affected) young subjects (males, <= 45 years and females, <= 50 years) were selected. The markers assayed were GGT, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, lipids, secretory phospholipase A2, neopterin, myeloperoxidase, interleukin-6, cystatin-C, tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis and lipoprotein (a). The plasma GGT levels in these subjects showed a positive correlation with quantitative variables, such as waist circumference, triglycerides, neopterin levels and cross-sectional correlation with qualitative variable smoking. The findings suggest that the subjects in the highest tertile of GGT had a 2.1-fold [odds ratio (OR), 2.104; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.063-4.165; P=0.033] higher risk of developing premature CAD in comparison with the reference tertile. Furthermore, a 1 U/l increase of GGT (on a log scale) increased the OR by 5.2-fold (OR, 5.208; 95% CI, 1.018-24.624; P=0.048) and 7.4-fold (OR, 7.492; 95% CI, 1.221-45.979; P=0.030) on addition of associated risk factors. In conclusion, the elevated plasma GGT levels potentially indicate increased oxidative stress and the risk of developing premature CAD. Therefore, these findings could be potentially used in the risk stratification of premature CAD following further evaluation.