Abstract :
Introduction: In an era of a cardiovascular epidemic, there is ongoing re search for more sensitive and
specific markers of sub-clinical inflammation, atherogenesis, and increased adiposity. This study attempted
to see the utility of serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) as an ideal endogenous substance for the
diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.
Materials and Methods: 180 patients attending medicine outpatient or inpatients in a tertiary care hospital
of Bangalore were chosen comprising 90 cases of metabolic syndrome and equal number of controls.
Study period was 2 years from September 2011–September 2013. GGT estimation and other biochemical
parameters were obtained. Descriptive and analytical statistical tests were applied accordingly.
Results: In this study, 69% cases had higher GGT levels whereas another 25% were in the upper limit
of normal in patients with metabolic syndrome. The sensitivity and specificity of GGT to diagnose
patients with metabolic syndrome was found to be 67% and 100% in males and 94% and 98% in females
respectively.(p Conclusion: Hence study revealed elevated level of GGT among people with metabolic syndrome. The
sensitivity of the test to diagnose metabolic syndrome was better in females; but specificity had no gender
bias. Hence GGT as a marker can be proposed in the algorithm used for the evaluation of metabolic
syndrome.
Keyword :
Metabolic syndrome, Gamma glutamyl transferase, Marker Diagnostic.