Utility of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and mean corpuscular volume in alcoholic liver disease.

Abstract

The present study was designed to establish the role of Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Serum gamma-GT, total and direct bilirubin, albumin, total protein, AST, ALT and ALP were assayed by standard methods in a clinical chemistry autoanalyser. MCV, Hb, PCV and RBC were measured by an automated cell counter. Activity of gamma-GT and MCV levels were significantly higher in the patients with ALD compared to controls. A gamma-GT level of > or = 25 U/l was found to be significantly associated with ALD. MCV level > or = 100 fl/l showed a significant association with ALD. An AST to ALT ratio > 1 was found in 92% of the patients. None of the patients showed an ALT level > or = 300 IU/l. The degree of AST elevation in the patients with ALD was higher (3.7 times) then ALT (3.2 times). A gamma-GT level > or = 25 IU/L and an MCV level > or = 100 fl/l stand as markers of heavy alcohol consumption in this study. An AST to ALT ratio > 1 was present in most of the patients with ALD. The degree of elevation of AST was higher than ALT in the patients with ALD.

• Authors: N Baral, S Pokhrel, M Lamsal, B N Yadav, S P Sah
• Journal: The Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health (Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health) Vol. 36 Issue 4 Pg. 1007-10 (Jul 2005) ISSN: 0125-1562 [Print] Thailand
• PMID: 16295559 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• gamma-Glutamyltransferase

Topics

• Alcohol Drinking (blood)
• Alcoholism (blood, diagnosis, enzymology)
• Analysis of Variance
• Case-Control Studies
• Erythrocyte Indices (drug effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Liver Diseases, Alcoholic (blood, diagnosis, enzymology)
• Male
• Nepal
• gamma-Glutamyltransferase (blood)