title: Elevated serum gamma-glutamyltransferase predicts advanced histological liver damage in chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: Recently, several studies have demonstrated that serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is associated with some diseases, such as chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study investigates the association between GGT levels and liver pathological grading in patients with CHB. 300 patients with CHB who underwent liver biopsy were enrolled. Histological assessment was based on the Scheuer scoring system. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the independent predicting factors for the presence of liver pathological grade in patients with CHB. In patients with CHB, the mean GGT level was 44.14±3.69 (U/L) in low activity group and 114.87±15.75 (U/L) in the high activity group (p<0.001). Also, there was significant difference between the low and high fibrosis group with regard to GGT levels [45.32±4.64 (U/L) vs. 90.41±11.06 (U/L), p<0.001, respectively]. The variables that were significant in the univariate analysis were evaluated in multivariate logistic regression analysis, and GGT was an independent predicting factor of necroinflammation and fibrosis (OR=1.007, 95%CI: 1.001-1.014, p=0.030; OR=1.009, 95%CI: 1.003-1.014, p=0.003, respectively). Results of this study suggest that GGT is a new non-invasive marker that can be used to predict advanced histological liver damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
authors.forename: Yaofu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Zongguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Qingnian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China.
authors.forename: Xiaorong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase