Role of C-reactive protein and gamma-glutamyl transferase in the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome

Previous studies have reported that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events and levels of C-Reactive protein (CRP) can be considered as markers of MetS and its constituent components. Oxidative stress plays a major role in the development of MetS, and levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) change with response to oxidative stress are also associated with MetS, which may be modulated by CRP. This study was conducted to identify the role of GGT and CRP as biomarkers in the diagnosis of MetS, a high-risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. One hundred and fifty patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of MetS and an equal number of controls were included in the study. The cases were selected from pathology and molecular biology laboratories, Karachi, while the controls came from the general population. Anthropometric indices of adiposity and blood pressure were recorded for both cases and controls. Blood samples were taken from all subjects to determine the levels of CRP and GGT. All those cases and control height, weight, hip waist circumference were noted and the comparison of CRP and GGT by applying students' t-test as markers for detection of metabolic syndrome. p-value 0.001 was considered as significant. This study suggests that in patients with metabolic syndrome were found to have raised the basal metabolic rate, C-reactive protein and GGT were synergistically associated with MetS independently of another confounding factor in the general population. Keywords: C-reactive protein (CRP), gama glutamyl transferase (GGT), metabolic syndrome, (Met-S), inflammation, body mass index.