title: Association between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity and carotid intima-media thickness.
abstract: Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity is a marker of oxidative stress and activity is associated with cardiovascular disease. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a noninvasive predictor of atherosclerosis. We investigated the association between serum GGT activity and carotid IMT. Fifty-five persons who had normal liver function tests were consecutively enrolled. Carotid IMT was evaluated in the right and left common carotid arteries. The averaged values of carotid IMT and serum GGT activity were compared. Serum GGT activity correlated with carotid IMT (r = .396, P = .003). Serum GGT activities were increased in patients with carotid intimal hyperplasia compared with those without intimal hyperplasia (20.3 ± 11.2 vs 34.3 ± 16.1 U/L; P = .001). Serum GGT activity is associated with carotid IMT. This finding supports the concept that elevated serum GGT activity is a marker of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey. serpileroglu@gmail.com
authors.forename: Serpil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eroglu
authors.forename: Leyla Elif
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Sade
authors.forename: Ezgi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bozbas
authors.forename: Taner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ulus
authors.forename: Haldun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muderrisoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase