title: Relationship between elevated serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity and slow coronary flow.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the relationship between coronary blood flow and serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 90 patients (47 men, 43 women; mean age 50.8+/-9.4 years) with SCF and 88 patients (45 men, 43 women; mean age 51.4+/-8.8 years) with coronary artery disease (CAD), whose diagnoses were made by coronary angiography. Patients with CAD had normal coronary flow. Coronary flow was quantified using the corrected TIMI frame count (TFC) method and serum levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase were measured. The results were compared with those of a control group consisting of 86 age- and sex-matched patients who had normal coronary arteries and normal coronary flow.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The three groups were similar with respect to body mass index, presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, lipid profiles, and fasting glucose. The use of medications was significantly more common in the CAD group (p<0.01). Compared to the control group, serum GGT activity was significantly increased in both SCF and CAD groups (p<0.01), but these two groups did not differ significantly in this respect (p=0.71). The TFCs for all the epicardial coronary arteries and the mean TFC were significantly higher in the SCF group (p<0.01). Patients with CAD and the controls had similar TFC parameters. The mean TFC showed a positive and moderate correlation with serum GGT activity (r=0.326; p<0.001). In regression analysis, serum GGT activity was found as the only independent predictor of the mean TFC (beta=0.309; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have shown for the first time an association between increased serum GGT activity and SCF. Further clinical studies are needed to clarify the physiopathologic role of serum GGT activity in SCF.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Türkiye Yüksek Ihtisas Heart-Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. nihatdrsen@yahoo.com
authors: Nihat
authors: N
authors: Sen
authors: Mehmet F
authors: MF
authors: Ozlü
authors: Nurcan
authors: N
authors: Başar
authors: Firat
authors: F
authors: Ozcan
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Güngör
authors: Osman
authors: O
authors: Turak
authors: Ozgül
authors: O
authors: Malçok
authors: Kumral
authors: K
authors: Cağli
authors: Orhan
authors: O
authors: Maden
authors: Ali R
authors: AR
authors: Erbay
authors: Ahmet D
authors: AD
authors: Demir
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001241:Aspirin