Gamma-Glutamyltransferase levels, inflammation and new-onset of atrial in acute myocardial infarction

Aim of the study. There is mounting evidence to support the influence of inflammation in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Creactive protein (CRP) is a high-sensitivity commonly used marker for acute inflammatory response. lt has been reported that in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the occurrence of AF has significant correlations with a higher white blood celi count (WBC), serum CRP levels, a higher degree of coronary artery disease (CAD) and with a higher incidence of major adverse cardiac events. Gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT) is an enzyme found in many cells including platelets and leukocytes. GGT regulates PKC activity and its physiologic role is to initiate the hydrolysis of extracellular glutathione. PKC are enzymes that covalently modify proteins by attaching phosphate groups (from ATP) to serine, threonine, andlor tyrosine residues. The pathophysiological dysfunction of protein kinases C signaling pathways underlies the molecular basis of severa l cardiovascular responses. lt has • also been reported GGT iron-dependent LDL oxidation and that the ' products of the GGT iron-dependent reaction may themselves lead to increased free radica! productìon. There is some evidence from recent studies that GGT is independently assocìated with cardiovascular mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate if there were relations among GGT levels and new-onset of atrial fibrillation in patients without thyroid disease admitted to t he Cardiology Unit with AMI and without previous occurrence of AF andlor heart failure. Methods. We studi ed, in a retrospettive analysis, 321 patients admitted to the Cardiology Unit with AMI. The population of patients was divided in groups according to elevated GGT (129 pat ients, named HGGT group) or not elevated GGT (1 92 patients, named nGGT group). So we investigated the new-onset of AF during hospitalization. Results. We found significant correlations relating new onset of AF between HGGT group as follows: (HGGT group: 20.93023% "271129pt", nGGT group: 7.8125% "1 5/192 pt", p:0,001) Conclusions. These data suggest that in patients in patients admitted to the Cardiology Unit with AMI and without previous occurrence of AF and/or heart failure, an elevated GGT concentration has significant correlations with the new-onset of AF.