Serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidase in liver disorders

• Published in: Clinical biochemistry Vol. 6; no. 1; pp. 41 - 45
• Main Authors: Keane, P.M., Garcia, L., Gupta, R.N., Walker, W.H.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.03.1973
• Subjects: Acyltransferases - blood; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Alcoholism - enzymology; Alkaline Phosphatase - blood; Aspartate Aminotransferases - blood; Bone Diseases - enzymology; Brain Diseases - enzymology; Carcinoma - enzymology; Clinical Enzyme Tests; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Hypersensitivity - enzymology; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; gamma-Glutamyltransferase - blood; Heart Failure - enzymology; Hepatitis A - enzymology; Hepatitis B - enzymology; Humans; Jaundice - enzymology; Liver Diseases - blood; Liver Diseases - diagnosis; Liver Diseases - enzymology; Liver Neoplasms - enzymology; Male; Pancreatitis - enzymology
• ISSN: 0009-9120; 1873-2933
• DOI: 10.1016/S0009-9120(73)80008-6

1. The levels of serum gamma glutamyl transpeptidases (GGT) were estimated in 189 patients with diseases of the liver and biliary system and several non-hepatic disorders. 2. Serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were estimated on the same samples. 3. GGT is more sensitive an indicator of liver disorder than AST or ALT except in infective and serum hepatitis. It readily distinguishes these conditions from drug sensitivity jaundice. 4. In bone disease with elevated AP values, GGT levels were normal or slightly elevated. 5. ALT was consistently more sensitive than AST in infective and serum hepatitis. In other liver disorders the relative sensitivities of ALT and AST showed no consistent pattern. GGT was invariably elevated when either transaminase was abnormal. It can replace either one of the transaminases but not both, with improved diagnostic effect and without loss of useful data. 6. Elevations of GGT occurred in cerebral disorders and diabetes as well as in the reported cases (1) of myocardial infarction and angina.