Association between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase and early-onset coronary artery disease: a retrospective case-control study

The relationship between early-onset coronary artery disease and familial hypercholesterolemia: a cohort study based on the Hakka population in Meizhou, China

BACKGROUND

The low diagnosis and treatment rates of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) have become a global issue. This study aims to explore the correlation between early-onset coronary artery disease (CAD) and FH in the Hakka population in Meizhou, Guangdong.

METHODS

Clinical data of Hakka patients with early-onset CAD, admitted to the Meizhou People's Hospital from January 2023 to January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were categorized into an FH group and a non-FH group. Biochemical indicators, lipid levels, echocardiographic parameters, clinical phenotypes, and genetic typing of early-onset CAD patients in the Hakka population were analyzed for their correlation with FH.

RESULTS

A total of 167 Hakka patients with early-onset CAD were included, among whom 22 patients had FH. The FH group showed lower triglyceride (TG) level [1.785 (1.40, 2.10) vs. 2.090 (1.80, 2.30), P = 0.002] and higher levels of total cholesterol (TC) [6.635 (5.60, 7.10) vs. 4.830 (4.00, 5.40), P<0.001], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) [4.440 (3.90, 5.20) vs. 2.820 (2.40, 3.30), P<0.001], and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) [1.600 (1.30, 1.80) vs. 0.910 (0.70, 1.10), P<0.001]. FH was correlated with TG, TC, LDL-C and Apo B levels (r1 = -0.235; r2 = 0.441; r3 = 0.483; r4 = 0.538). TG is a risk factor while TC, LDL-C and Apo B are protective factors for FH.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of FH is relatively high among early-onset CAD patients in the Hakka population in Meizhou. TG, TC, LDL-C, and Apo B levels are valuable in aiding clinical differential diagnosis of CAD patients with FH.

The importance of the enzyme Gamma-glutamyltransferase in the pathogenic cluster in type2 diabetic patient

Introduction. Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) is a liver enzyme involved in inflammation and oxidative stress. It is already known that MCP-1 (Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1) and TNF-α (tumour necrosis factor) as inflammatory markers, ICAM-1 (Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1) as an endothelial dysfunctional marker, and glutathione, as an antioxidant, have abnormal levels in type 2 diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the specific biological picture of type 2 diabetic patients that also associate higher GGT activity. Methods. Eighty-five type 2 diabetes, aged 40-70 years with a duration of diabetes less than 6 years without infections, epilepsy, chronic liver or cardiac diseases, without alcohol consumption (>20 g/day) were divided in two subgroups, those with normal and those with high abnormal GGT. Results. The diabetic patients with high GGT (n=31) had dysglycaemia, dyslipidemia, higher inflammatory markers (CRP, TNF-α, MCP-1) and endothelial dysfunction (high leptin and sICAM). sICAM, serum MCP-1 and TNF-α levels had significant correlations with GGT activity (r= 0.38, r=0.30 and 0.26 respectively, p<0.05). Conclusion. This study underlines that in non-alcoholic diabetic patients, with a duration of the metabolic disease less than 6 years, sICAM, serum MCP-1 and TNF-α might play an important role in dysmetabolism, and higher level for GGT represents the "red flag" for this condition.