title: Association between gamma-glutamyltransferase and coronary artery calcification.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The exact mechanisms behind the association between atherosclerosis and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) are unclear. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) detected by computerized tomography is an important marker of atherosclerosis and its severity correlates with coronary plaque burden. The aim of this study was to investigate if serum GGT levels are associated with CAC in patients without known coronary heart disease (CHD) who had low-intermediate risk for CHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and seventy two patients who had low-intermediate risk for coronary artery disease were included in the study. Serum GGT levels were measured spectrophotometrically. CACS (Agatston method) were performed using a 64-slice computerized tomography scanner. The patients were grouped according to their GGT values in four quartiles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in higher GGT quartiles had elevated CAC score (P<0.001). Patients in higher GGT quartiles were predominantly males (P<0.001) and were more likely to be smoking (P=0.004), and have elevated uric acid (P<0.001), fasting blood glucose (P<0.001), CRP levels (P=0.003) and 10-year total cardiovascular risk (P=0.007) and low HDL levels (P<0.001). Positive correlations were found between log GGT and CAC (r=0.233, P<0.001). In the multivariate analysis GGT, age, smoking and serum uric acid levels appeared as independent factors predictive of presence of CAC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated a significant correlation between serum GGT levels and CAC and CHD risk factors. Serum GGT level was an independent marker of CAC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Fatih University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. asliatar@gmail.com
authors.forename: Asli I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Atar
authors.forename: Omer C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Kayihan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Selcoki
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Er
authors.forename: Beyhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eryonucu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; C554782:gamma-glutamyltransferase, human