Hepatic panel
Gamma-glutamyl transferaseGGT
Sensitive but non-specific marker of hepatobiliary injury and enzyme induction.
Sample
Serum
Clinical reference range
— to 50 U/L
Adult
Conv: —–50 U/LFunc: 8–25 U/L
Biology
What it measures
Membrane-bound enzyme on biliary epithelium and hepatocytes; involved in glutathione metabolism. Induced by alcohol, phenytoin, and oxidative stress.
Clinical use
Why we order it
Confirm hepatobiliary origin of high ALP (high GGT = liver, normal GGT = bone). Screen for alcohol exposure and oxidative stress.
Lens · Clinical
Interpretation by lens
Functional interpretation
GGT is one of the strongest single predictors of all-cause mortality in healthy cohorts — likely reflecting glutathione depletion and oxidative stress.
Differential
Causes of abnormal values
Causes of HIGH
- ↑Cholestasis
- ↑Alcohol
- ↑Drugs (phenytoin, barbiturates, statins)
- ↑NAFLD
- ↑Heart failure
Related