Transglutaminase

Glutamine transferase is an organic component in the human body. It is distributed in various organs of the body, and is most abundant in the kidneys and liver. Natural glutamyl transaminase has a much greater impact on kidney and liver function than any other organ in the body. If the glutaminase level is too high or too low, it will have adverse effects on kidney and liver functions, and in severe cases it may cause related diseases.

Therefore, always pay attention to the level of glutamylase in the body and don't wait until it causes illness before you regret it. We should also be careful to avoid factors that can cause high or low glutamylase levels. Most people don’t know much about the factors and hazards that cause high glutamylase levels. Let’s discuss this together.

Reasons for high:

1. Viral hepatitis: In acute hepatitis, glutamyl transferase is moderately elevated; in the inactive phase of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, glutamyl transferase is normal. If glutamyl transferase continues to increase, it indicates that the condition is worsening.

2. Alcoholic and drug-induced hepatitis: Glutamyl transferase is generally between 300 and 1000 U/L. After alcoholics quit drinking, glutamyl transferase will decrease.

3. Biliary obstructive diseases can also cause elevated glutamyl transferase. Intrahepatic obstruction can induce liver cells to produce large amounts of glutamyl transferase, which may even reach more than 10 times the upper limit of the reference value.

4. Fatty liver, pancreatitis, pancreatic tumors, prostate tumors, etc. can also cause a slight increase in glutamyl transferase;

5. Excessive consumption of high-protein supplements will also increase the burden on the liver and lead to increased glutamyl transferase.

Reasons for low

Gamma-glutamyl transferase is mainly found in the kidneys, liver and pancreas, while glutamyl transferase in serum mainly comes from the hepatobiliary system. Low glutamyl transferase levels are not common in clinical practice. Generally, glutamyl transferase values ​​are considered normal as long as they are within the reference range. If the glutamyl transferase level in the body of a hepatitis B patient is too low, he may have severe hepatitis. In addition, the acute outbreak of hepatitis B can also cause low glutamyl transferase levels.

harm

1. Indication of viral hepatitis: In acute viral hepatitis, the hepatocytes adjacent to the necrotic area have hypersynthesis of hepatic enzymes, causing elevated serum glutamyl transpeptidase. In chronic active hepatitis, the glutamyl transpeptidase test value is often 1 to 2 times higher than the normal value of glutamyl transpeptidase. If it is elevated for a long time, there may be a tendency to liver necrosis.

2. Indication of hepatobiliary disease: When the intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile duct is obstructed, the excretion of glutamyl transpeptidase is blocked and refluxes into the blood with bile, resulting in elevated serum glutamyl transpeptidase.

3. Predicts fatty liver: Glutamyl transpeptidase is often elevated in patients with fatty liver, but in general, serum glutamyl transpeptidase activity in nutritional fatty liver is usually no more than twice the normal value.

4. Predicts alcoholic liver disease: Glutamyl transpeptidase levels are almost always elevated in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis, becoming an important feature of alcoholic liver disease.

5. Predicting liver cirrhosis: Changes in serum glutamyl transpeptidase during liver cirrhosis depend on whether the intrahepatic lesions are active and their causes. It is usually normal during the inactive phase, but tends to increase if accompanied by inflammation and progressive fibrosis. Primary or secondary biliary cirrhosis often has elevated glutamyl transpeptidase in the early stages. Some people believe that glutamyl transpeptidase increases in the early stages of cirrhosis, but is very low in severe patients, especially in late-stage cases. This may be due to the loss of the ability of hepatocytes to synthesize glutamyl transpeptidase. Therefore, it is believed that if glutamyl transpeptidase is high in patients with cirrhosis, it indicates that the disease is still in the early stages.

6. Predicting liver cancer: In patients with primary or metastatic liver cancer, glutamyl transpeptidase levels are mostly moderately or highly increased, which can be several times or even dozens of times greater than normal, while other system tumors are mostly normal. However, the results of glutamyl transpeptidase in liver cancer overlap a lot with other hepatobiliary diseases, especially with jaundice cases. Therefore, the single determination of glutamyl transpeptidase has no diagnostic value for liver cancer. However, if alpha-fetoprotein, AKP and GGT are determined at the same time, the diagnostic value is greater (if alpha-fetoprotein is negative, but AKP and GGT are elevated, especially in the absence of jaundice, normal transaminase or only slightly elevated transaminase, one should be highly alert to the possibility of liver cancer.

You should know that kidney function and liver function are one of the most important functions of the human body. Any problem with any body function is a terrible phenomenon. Therefore, we must pay attention to our diet and living habits in our daily life. Try to eat more fruits and vegetables, and exercise regularly to keep fit. Only in this way can we have a better future.