Evaluation of the usefulness of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase levels in the management of haematological neoplasia.
The levels of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and, when appropriate, alkaline phosphatase (AP) and 5'-nucleotidase (NTD) have been measured as a routine in 276 patients with malignant haematological diseases during a 26-month trial period. GGT levels add no prognostic information to the routine haematological surveillance of leukaemia. Polychemotherapy does not appear to be an inducer of liver drug-metabolising microsomal enzymes. Polycythaemia rubra vera, myelofibrosis and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia may cause little change in GGT, AP and NTD levels despite marked hepatomegaly. A raised GGT in Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma is generally associated with active and widespread disease, but not necessarily a sign of malignant tissue in the liver. The elevations of GGT in myeloma may be secondary to liver infiltration though this group merits further detailed study.
D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000201:enzymology; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000201:enzymology; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000201:enzymology; D011379:Prognosis; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase