Abstract

The diagnostic value of GGT was evaluated in patients with various hepatobiliary diseases. The sensitivity of serum GGT in suspected hepatobiliary diseases was 81.5%. ALP, AST, and ALT were elevated in 60.0%, 84.2% and 69.7% respectively. 69.7% in GGT, 46.7% in ALP, 69.8% in AST, and 66.0% in ALT were above twice of normal range. Each one case of acute hepatitis and cirrhosis showed only GGT elevation without elevations of other three enzymes. The number of cases with only AST or ALT elevation was one in each, but there was no case with ALP elevation alone. The mean values of normal control and hepatobiliary disease group were 21.2 U/L and 198.8 U/L. The highest level of serum GGT was found in fatty liver with a mean of 376.0 U/L, and in alcoholism with 188.0 U/L. The mean values of GGT in acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, obstructive jaudnice and metastatic carcinoma were 149.2, 140.4, 132.8, 160.4 and 134.5 U/L respectively. The values of above 5 groups were uncontributory in distinguishing between different types of hepatobiliary disease. The mean value of GGT was compared with other enzymes. GGT was markedly elevated in hepatoma, metastatic carcinoma, fatty liver, and alcoholism and was frequently elevated in chronic hepatitis, hepatoma, fatty liver, and alcoholism. In cirrhosis and hepatoma GGT was significantly correlated with AST but with ALP and ALT.