ASSOCIATION OF γ-GLUTAMYLTRANSFERASES (GGT) WITH AND WITHOUT HYPERTENSIVE RETINOPATHY IN NORTH INDIAN POPULATION

Abstract

γ-Glutamyltransferase (GGT) has been extensively studied because it mediates the intracellular uptake of extracellular glutathione, a key component of the antioxidant mechanism. The most common modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease is hypertension, and has been found to be associated with serum GGT levels, especially in middle-aged and older adults. Serum GGT is involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. A case-control study was conducted for 24 months with patients with pre-diagnosed hypertension in the ophthalmology department. Patients were classified into two groups, group 1 with 50 patients previously diagnosed hypertensive patients aged 40 years without hypertensive retinopathy and group 2 (100 patients) with had hypertensive retinopathy. Serum gamma-glutamyl- transferase was measured using the CORAL Colorimetric Assay Kit. Majority of patients were aged between 40 to 59 years and were females. SBP, DBP and MAP significantly increased in group 2 when compared with group 1. Majority of group 2 patients had GGT levels >40 U/l (89.0%), while the majority of group 1 had her GGT levels less than <40 U/L (62.0%).According to our study, GGT was significantly increased in patients with high blood pressure (SBPand DBP) and a family history of hypertension.