Elevated liver enzymes in metabolic syndrome are associated with coronary stenosis in a Tunisian population.

BACKGROUND

Recently, elevated liver enzymes have attracted great interest as potential novel markers of cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to investigate if there is a relationship between elevated liver enzymes and coronary stenosis associated with metabolic syndrome in a Tunisian population.

METHODS

We enrolled 192 patients who underwent coronary angiography. Significant coronary stenosis (SCS) was diagnosed in the presence of coronary stenosis with lumenal narrowing >or=50%. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria.

RESULTS

Frequencies of subjects with liver enzyme activities belonging to quartile 4 were higher in the group with metabolic syndrome. Association of SCS with metabolic syndrome was more significant in the quartile 4 of gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Odds ratios of SCS associated with metabolic syndrome were: [1.40 (0.66-2.9) for quartile 1 versus 4.20 (1.3-9.9) for quartile 4 of GGT; 1.52 (0.29-3.7) for quartile 1 vs. 5.30 (1.39-18.9) for quartile 4 of ALT].

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated liver enzyme activity was associated with metabolic syndrome and only GGT and ALT seem to be associated with an increase of the coronary stenosis in the studied population with metabolic syndrome.