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Abstract
In clinical practice, increased serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity is usually interpreted as a marker of alcohol abuse and liver dysfunction. The knowledge of the GGT's physiological functions has expanded and several important epidemiological associations have been reported. This review examines evidence for an association of high normal serum GGT enzyme activity, mostly within the reference range, with the risk of mortality and major vascular (i.e., cardiovascular morbidity and mortality) and non-vascular outcomes (i.e., incident type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease and cancer), independent of alcohol consumption and other prognostic factors.
Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:147–57.
Keywords: cancer; cardiovascular disease; chronic kidney disease; diabetes; epidemiology; γ-glutamyltransferase
Received: 2009-7-24
Accepted: 2009-9-18
Published Online: 2009-11-30
Published in Print: 2010-02-01
©2010 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
