Associations Between GGT/ALT Ratio and Carotid Plaque in Inpatients With Coronary Artery Disease: A RCSCD-TCM Study

• Published in: Angiology 2025-01, Vol.76 (1), p.40-50
• Main Authors: Lai, Ziqin, Li, Zhu, Huang, Mengnan, Wang, Yang, Li, Lin, Liu, Fanfan, Yang, Tong, Liu, Yijia, Xu, Qiang, Gao, Shan, Yu, Chunquan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Biomarkers - blood; Carotid Artery Diseases - blood; Carotid Artery Diseases - complications; Carotid Artery Diseases - diagnostic imaging; China - epidemiology; Coronary Artery Disease - blood; Coronary Artery Disease - complications; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Female; gamma-Glutamyltransferase - blood; Humans; Inpatients; Male; Middle Aged; Plaque, Atherosclerotic - blood; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 0003-3197; 1940-1574; 1940-1574
• DOI: 10.1177/00033197231197441

This study investigated the relationship between gamma-glutamyltransferase/alanine aminotransferase (GGT/ALT) ratio and carotid plaques in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This multicenter retrospective study included 8,255 patients with CAD who were divided according to GGT/ALT quartiles: Q1 (GGT/ALT ≤ 1.00), Q2 (1.00 < GGT/ALT ≤ 1.41), Q3 (1.41 < GGT/ALT ≤ 2.05), and Q4 (GGT/ALT > 2.05). Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between GGT/ALT, carotid plaques, and carotid plaque echogenicity. GGT/ALT ratio (odds ratio [OR]: 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–1.21; P < .001) was significantly associated with carotid plaque risk. The degree of relevance was higher in men (OR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.35–2.15; P < .001) than in women (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.28–1.91; P < .001). The ORs value of carotid plaque risk was higher in middle-aged patients (OR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.78–2.80; P < .001) than in older patients (OR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.44–2.18; P < .001). The GGT/ALT ratio was significantly associated with different carotid plaque echogenicity, and the highest OR values were for isoechoic plaques (OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.12–1.24; P < .001). These findings suggest that the GGT/ALT ratio might be associated with a high risk of developing carotid plaques and different types of plaque echoes and was more significantly associated with isoechoic plaques.