Shriram Ganesh R. T, K. Namasivayam
BACKGROUND
Stroke is one of the major health problems in many countries. There is supporting evidence suggesting that Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) enzyme has an active involvement in atherosclerosis through its oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms. With this background, we conducted a study among acute stroke patients with an aim and objective to evaluate the relationship between stroke and serum GGT levels and to assess the severity of various types of stroke in relation to the levels of serum GGT enzyme.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 50 acute stroke patients and 50 normal individuals as controls participated in the study. Stroke patients were advised for routine haematological investigations, serum GGT estimation and plain CT of brain.
RESULTS
Out of the 50 acute stroke patients who participated in our study, 32 patients had elevated levels of serum GGT and 3 patients had drastically elevated levels of GGT (>100 IU/L). A statistically significant relationship was found between ischaemic stroke and GGT with a p-value of 0.0418.
CONCLUSION
Gamma-glutamyl transferase estimation in acute stroke patients may serve as a reliable and feasible clinical test for the physician to initially stratify patient risk and provide prompt therapy.
