Association between serum γ-glutamyltransferase and the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relation between the level of serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and the stability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque.  Methods A total of 1032 patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaques were divided into stable plaque group (N = 511) and unstable plaque group (N = 521) according to the results of carotid artery Doppler ultrasound examination. Risk factors for unstable carotid plaques were screened by univariate and multivariate forward Logistic regression analysis.  Results Compared with patients with stable plaques, percentage of males (P = 0.000), proportion of smoking history (P = 0.000), the serum levels of triglyceride (TG, P = 0.002), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, P = 0.008) and GGT (P = 0.000) increased significantly, while age (P = 0.000) and serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HDL-C, P = 0.032) decreased significantly in patients with unstable plaques. Univariate and multivariate forward Logistic regression analysis showed that sex (OR = 1.516, 95%CI: 1.170-1.964; P = 0.002), smoking history (OR = 1.447, 95% CI: 1.085-1.930; P = 0.012), serum TG (OR = 1.127, 95% CI: 1.032-1.231; P = 0.008), serum LDL-C (OR = 1.235, 95%CI: 1.069-1.426; P = 0.004) and serum GGT (OR = 1.012, 95%CI: 1.006-1.019; P = 0.000) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of unstable carotid plaques.  Conclusions Elevation of serum GGT level is a risk factor for unstable carotid plaques.

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2016.03.011