Thursday, March 19, 2015

Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase (GGT)


U/LGGT is an enzyme present in liver, kidney, and pancreas. It transfers C-terminal glutamic acid from a peptide to other peptides of L-amino acids. It is induced by alcohol intake and is an extremely sensitive indicator of liver disease, particularly alcoholic liver disease.

Normal Range: Laboratory-specific


increased in: Liver disease: acute viral or toxic hepatitis, chronic or subacute hepatitis, cirrhosis, biliary tract obstruction (intrahepatic or extrahepatic), primary or metastatic liver neoplasm, alcoholic hepatitis, mononucleosis. Drugs (by enzyme induction): phenytoin, barbiturates, alcohol.
 
Additional: Useful in follow up of alcoholics undergoing treatment. Test sensitive to modest alcohol intake. Test positive in 90% of patients with liver disease. Used to confirm hepatic origin of elevated serum alkaline phosphatase.

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