Serum Levels of Gamma Glutamyltransferase in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients and Normal Individuals- Case Control Study

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogenous lung condition characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms like cough, dyspnea, sputum production and exacerbation due to abnormalities of airways. Gamma Glutamyltransferase (GGT) being a heterodimeric protein, bound on the extracellular surface of secretory cells. It plays an important role in processes of oxidative stress. Elevated serum GGT levels indicate oxidative stress and/or an inflammatory process

Materials and methods: The study was done in 60 persons. Among them 20 were patients with Acute exacerbation of COPD, 20 were stable COPD patients and 20 were healthy human beings.3ml of Blood was collected from each persons. Serum GGT estimation was estimated in each person. 

Results: The study was done in 60 persons. 43.30% ( n=26) were males, 56.7% (n=34) were females. They were categorised into 3 groups.  Acute Exacerbation of COPD, Stable COPD and control. GGT levels between males and females, mean ± SD in males is 34.80 ± 15.13, control is 24.15±13.74. This was statistically significant p < 0.001. Among COPD cases (n=40), mean±SD and Median are 35.41±14.71 and 34.70 (17.40). The same among control (n=20), are 19.74±10.85 and 22.45 (16.02). This is statistically significant p < 0.001. Mean ± SD and Median among AECOPD Patients are 39.93±18.41, and 35.10(29.9), and among control the Mean ± SD and Median 30.90±7.88 and 30 (13). This was borderline significant p value is 0.51.

Conclusion: AECOPD and stable COPD cases are common among males than females. Mean GGT levels are elevated among males than females in the present study. Mean GGT levels are higher among cases than the controls which is statistically significant. AECOPD and Stable COPD do not show significance in the GGT levels. To conclude GGT levels can be used as marker for AECOPD and stable COPD cases.