Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase and C-Reactive Protein in Essential Hypertension

Abstract

ABSTRACT Hypertension is known to be one of the major causes of the global burden of many diseases. It is proving to be a critical medical and public health issue. Previous studies have drawn inconsistent conclusions about the risk of hypertension and its association with gamma-glutamyl transferase and C-reactive protein (CRP). CRP is a marker of systemic inflammation and has been postulated to increase the risk of hypertension. Gamma-glutamyl transferase catalyzes the transfer of gamma-glutamyl functional groups from molecules such as glutathione to an acceptor that may be an amino acid, a peptide, or water. This study was undertaken to evaluate gamma-glutamyl transferase and CRP in essential hypertension and determine the association of these parameters with hypertension, if any. A total of 104 subjects (52 hypertensive cases and 52 healthy controls) between the ages of 30 and 50 were recruited after imposing certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. Gamma-glutamyl transferase and CRP were estimated using commercially available kits. All the data were tested at a 5% level of significance. Mean levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase and CRP were found to be significantly increased in patients with essential hypertension compared to controls. Elevated levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase and CRP are associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, which are in turn considered to be major factors involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. In conclusion, our study suggests that gamma-glutamyl transferase and C-reactive protein are independently associated with hypertension.