Objective To study the relationship between serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and coronary heart disease (CHD) in women.

Methods 636 patients (354 men, 282 women) undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled from March 2009 to November 2009 in the department of cardiology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University. The various indicators of blood testing and clinical data were collected among 636 patients. According to the results of coronary angiography, men and women respectively divided into CHD group and non-CHD group. According to the level of serum GGT, men and women respectively divided into five grade groups (normal low, normal high, moderately elevated, elevated, highly elevated).

Results The serum GGT levels in CHD group were statistically different from those in non-CHD group in women (p=0.010) but not in men (p=0. 480). More women had elevated serum GGT levels in CHD group than those in non-CHD group (p=0.009, OR=1.877), but this significant difference was not found in men (p=0.427, OR=0.829). The prevalence of CHD in women was significantly increased as serum GGT levels elevated (p=0.012), but this trend was not found in men (p=0.369). The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), direct bilirubin (DBIL), post prandial blood glucose (PBG) and the values of Ln triglycerides (LnTG) in women were positively correlated with the values of Ln serum GGT levels (LnGGT) separately, but levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were negatively correlated with LnGGT. The levels of ALT, uric acid (UA), fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC) and LnTG in men were positively correlated with the values LnGGT separately. Logistic regression indicated that serum GGT was independent risk factor of CHD in women (OR=1.782, 95% CI 1.043 to 3.043, p=0.034).

Conclusion (1) Serum GGT was correlated with morbidity of CHD in women. (2) The prevalence of CHD in women was significantly increased as serum GGT levels elevated. (3) The values of LnGGT were positively correlated with the levels of PBG and the values of LnTG in women, but negatively correlated with the levels of HDL-C. (4) Serum GGT was independent risk factor of CHD in women.