Serum gamma glutamyl transferase and alanine transaminase concentrations predict endothelial dysfunction in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Figures & data

Table I. Comparison of baseline demographics, laboratory features, and Doppler studies of patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and controls.

	NASH (n = 50)	Controls (n = 30)	p value
Age (years)	42 ± 9	41 ± 6	0.686
Gender (male/female)	27/23	19/11	0.414
BMI (kg/m^2)	30 ± 4	28 ± 3	0.004
Glucose (mg/dL)	90 ± 12	92 ± 8	0.662
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)	221 ± 36	205 ± 38	0.065
LDL cholesterol (mg/dL)	126 ± 27	119 ± 39	0.359
HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)	42 ± 6	43 ± 7	0.782
Triglyceride (mg/dL)	172 ± 57	174 ± 33	0.835
Creatinine (mg/dL)	0.8 ± 0.3	0.9 ± 0.3	0.325
GGT (U/L)	55 ± 18	36 ± 20	<0.001
AST (U/L)	48 ± 10	30 ± 6	<0.001
ALT (U/L)	61 ± 22	45 ± 13	0.001
Insulin (µU/mL)	13 ± 3	5 ± 2	<0.001
HOMA-IR	3.3 ± 1.5	1.5 ± 0.3	<0.001
Ejection fraction (%)	65 ± 6	66 ± 5	0.183
BA baseline diameter (mm)	40 ± 6	39 ± 4	0.172
FMD (%)	4.9 ± 2.8	9.3 ± 4.4	<0.001
CIMT (mm)	0.79 ± 0.16	0.64 ± 0.11	<0.001

AST = aspartic acid transaminase; ALT = alanine transaminase; BA = brachial artery; BMI = body mass index; CIMT = carotid intima-media thickness; FMD = flow-mediated dilatation; GGT = gamma glutamyl transferase; HDL = high-density lipoprotein; LDL = low-density lipoprotein.

Table II. Linear regression analysis showing relationships between several variables and flow-mediated dilatation of brachial artery.

	Coefficient β	p value
Age	–0.09	0.298
BMI	0.01	0.958
AST	–0.09	0.335
ALT	–0.43	0.002
GGT	–0.36	0.007
Insulin	–0.05	0.610
HOMA index	–0.09	0.414
Total cholesterol	0.16	0.846

Table III. Linear regression analysis showing relationships between several variables and carotid artery intima-media thickness.

	Coefficient β	p value
Age	0.09	0.415
BMI	0.09	0.401
AST	0.18	0.133
ALT	0.38	0.027
GGT	0.40	0.021
Insulin	0.03	0.821
HOMA index	0.09	0.536
Total cholesterol	0.01	0.902

Figure 1. In patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, serum gamma glutamyl transferase and alanine transaminase concentrations were negatively correlated with flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery. A: Graphics showing correlation between gamma glutamyl transferase concentration and flow-mediated dilatation. B: Graphics showing correlation between alanine transaminase concentration and flow-mediated dilatation.

Figure 2. In patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, serum gamma glutamyl transferase and alanine transaminase concentrations were highly correlated with the carotid intima-media thickness. A: Graphics showing correlation between serum gamma glutamyl transferase concentration and carotid intima-media thickness. B: Graphics showing correlation between serum alanine transaminase concentration and carotid intima-media thickness.