The relationship between gamma-glutamyltransferase and coronary collateral circulation in patients with chronic total occlusion

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between blood gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels and coronary collateral circulation in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO). METHODS: Two hundred twenty-two patients with chronic stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and CTO were included in this cross-sectional, observational study. Coronary collaterals were graded from 0 to 3 according to the Rentrop method. Patients with grade 0-1 collateral development were regarded as poor collateral group (n=66) while patients with grade 2-3 collateral development were regarded as good collateral group (n=156). Statistical analysis was performed using independent samples t, Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests, logistic regression and receiver operator curve analysis. RESULTS: The poor coronary collateral group had significantly higher levels of serum GGT compared to the good collateral group (p<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that GGT levels were independent predictors of poor collateral circulation (OR-0.946, 95% CI=0.918-0.9719, p<0.001). The result of ROC curve analysis for GGT was as following: area under the ROC curve (AUC)=0.732, 95% CI: 0.622-0.841, p<0.001. CONCLUSION: Higher GGT levels are associated with poor coronary collateral circulation in patients with CTO. GGT may be used to predict the grade of coronary collateral circulation in CTO patients with chronic stable CAD.