Gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase in hepato-biliary disease--value as an enzymatic liver function test.

The diagnostic and prognostic value of serum γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase activity in hepato-biliary disease was investigated in a group of 52 patients. The activity of the enzyme in the serum is elevated in cirrhosis (cryptogenic and alcoholic), chronic active hepatitis, extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction, primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatic neoplasms. In cirrhosis there is a significant decline in serum γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase activity as the condition progresses towards the end stage liver and very low values are found in terminal hepatic coma. In chronic active hepatitis the serum γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase activity is elevated but there is no significant difference between the values during relapse and remission. The serum γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase activity remains elevated for periods of 4-6 weeks after surgical correction of the biliary tract obstruction.