Circulating gamma-glutamyltransferase fractions in cirrhosis

Background & Aims Four gamma‐gultamyltransferases (GGT) fractions (b‐, m‐, s‐, and f‐GGT) have been identified in human plasma and their concentrations and ratios vary in different pathological conditions. To assess the behaviour of fractional GGT in cirrhotic patients evaluated for liver transplantation. Methods This was a single‐centre, cross‐sectional study; GGT fractions were determined by gel‐filtration chromatography. Results 264 cirrhotic patients (215 males; median age 54.5 years) were included and compared against a group of 200 healthy individuals (100 males; median age 41.5). Median (25th–75th percentile) total and fractional GGT were higher in cirrhotics, with s‐GGT showing the greatest increase [36.6 U/L (21.0–81.4) vs. 5.6 U/L (3.2–10.2), P