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γ-Glutamyl transferase (GGT) participates in oxidative and inflammatory reactions inside the atheroma plaque and platelets. We evaluated whether platelet membrane γ-glutamyl transferase (Plt-GGT) activity is a predictor of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) during 3 months follow-up of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS; MACE-3M). We included 105 patients who were hospitalized consecutively with the diagnosis of ACS. Patients with an MACE-3M were older, more likely to have hypertension, hyperlipidemia, family history of coronary artery disease(CAD), thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk score >4, higher Plt-GGT and serum GGT activities, serum C-reactive protein level, and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) when compared to those without MACE-3M (all P values ≤.05). By receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, 265 mU/mg for Plt-GGT, 30 U/L for serum GGT, and 45% for LVEF were determined as cutoff values to discriminate MACEs. Platelet GGT activity >265 mU/mg, TIMI risk score >4, and family history of CAD were independent predictors of MACE-3M (all P values <.05). Platelet GGT activity was as an independent predictor for MACEs in patients with ACS during the 3 months follow-up.

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose intolerance (IGT) are predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We tested the hypothesis that epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), as markers of early atherosclerosis, are increased in patients with prediabetes. We prospectively enrolled 246 patients (162 with prediabetes and 84 controls). Prediabetes was defined according to American Diabetes Association criteria, and patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1-IFG, group 2-IGT, and group 3-IFG + IGT. Both cIMT and EFT were significantly greater in patients with prediabetes compared with controls (0.81 ± 0.20 mm vs 0.68 ± 0.16 mm, P < .001 and 7.0 ± 2.0 mm vs 5.6 ± 1.6 mm, P < .001, respectively). This difference was mainly attributed to patients with IGT. Age, waist circumference, and 2-hour glucose independently predicted cIMT, while 2-hour glucose was the only independent predictor of EFT in multivariate analysis among other relevant parameters for cIMT and EFT. The cIMT and EFT (measured noninvasively) could be useful indicators of CVD risk in these patients. In order to prove this hypothesis, long-term prospective studies with greater patient numbers are required.

Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity is a marker of oxidative stress and activity is associated with cardiovascular disease. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a noninvasive predictor of atherosclerosis. We investigated the association between serum GGT activity and carotid IMT. Fifty-five persons who had normal liver function tests were consecutively enrolled. Carotid IMT was evaluated in the right and left common carotid arteries. The averaged values of carotid IMT and serum GGT activity were compared. Serum GGT activity correlated with carotid IMT (r = .396, P = .003). Serum GGT activities were increased in patients with carotid intimal hyperplasia compared with those without intimal hyperplasia (20.3 ± 11.2 vs 34.3 ± 16.1 U/L; P = .001). Serum GGT activity is associated with carotid IMT. This finding supports the concept that elevated serum GGT activity is a marker of atherosclerosis.