Serum gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase assay in the detection of alcohol consumers and in the early and stadial diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease.

Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP) assay, clinical and morphologic investigations were performed in three groups of subjects: 1) 128 healthy subjects, exposed to high alcoholic risk; b) 97 chronic alcohol consumers, hospitalized; c) 87 patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) morphologically confirmed. The GGTP assay was positive in 80% of the drinkers; the values varying according to the amount and the duration of alcohol consumption. The correlation index between the GGTP values and the morphologic aspects was 0.51 for chronic drinkers with ALD. The positivity degree of this test and the anatomo-clinical aspects of liver injury were well correlated, maximum values corresponding with severe liver damage. Our results show the value of GGTP assay in the detection of chronic alcoholics and of ALD.