Elevated ALT and GGT predict all-cause mortality and hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwanese male: A case-cohort study

Ruben Hernaez, Hsin Chieh Yeh, Mariana Lazo, Hui Ming Chung, James P. Hamilton, Ayman Koteish, James J. Potter, Frederick Louis Brancati, Jeanne M. Clark

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Evidence indicates a positive association between liver enzymes and the risk of death in Western countries; however, the evidence in Asian populations is scarce. We investigated the association between liver enzymes and total, cardiovascular (CVD), cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mortality in a cohort of Taiwanese male free of cancer at baseline. Methods: From 1996 to 2003, 54,751 Taiwanese male aged 40-80 years without cancer completed a health screening and were followed through 2005 (5.8 ± 2.5 years of follow-up). A random cohort of 3,961 male was selected to compare to 1,864 male who died. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to assess the risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality associated with alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT). Results: In this population, higher levels of ALT, AST and GGT were significantly associated with all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.2, 1.8 and 1.6 for ALT, AST and GGT, respectively; all p < 0.05], cancer mortality (HR 1.8-2.8) and HCC mortality (HR 5.5-36.1). GGT was significantly associated with CVD mortality (HR 1.2). Conclusions: In Taiwanese male free of cancer at baseline, elevations of ALT, AST and GGT were associated with future risk of all-cause death, all cancer and HCC mortality, independent of conventional risk factors, and could be used to identify male who would benefit from HCC screening.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1040-1049
Number of pages10
JournalHepatology International
Volume7
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2013

Keywords

  • Asia
  • Checkup
  • Hazard ratio
  • Longitudinal study
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology

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