Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and lipids in young adults with uncomplicated essential hypertension

Abstract

Introduction: Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase initially used as an indicator of alcohol ingestion is now viewed as a sensitive marker of sub clinical inflammation. Recent clinical studies have shown its association with blood pressure and lipid profile. As GGT degrades glutathione, an antioxidant GGT can be considered as a pro inflammatory marker playing a role in atherogenesis and hypertension. Materials and methods: 65 subjects with Essential hypertension and 50 age and sex matched healthy controls both male and female between 18-50 years of age were recruited from General Medicine department of Narayana Medical college and Hospital, Nellore, A.P. Serum GGT was measured by calorimetric kinetic assay. Fasting Serum Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol and HDL cholesterol by standard enzymatic procedures and LDL cholesterol by Friedwald equation. Results: GGT is significantly elevated in hypertensive subjects (Mean±SD 64.2±18.62IU/L) compared to controls (Mean±SD 26.20±8.91IU/L) (P value <0.001). GGT is significantly correlated with systolic BP (r= 0.26 p<0.01) and diastolic BP(r= 0.28 p<0.01). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that elevated GGT in young adults may contribute to their susceptibility to hypertension and provide an additional evidence of novel role of GGT in cardiovascular risk evaluation.