Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase: A Friend against Cholestatic Itch? A Retrospective Observational Data Analysis in Patients with Extrahepatic Cholestasis

Floris W Haijer; Cornelis B Van Vliet; Marjolein G J Brusse-Keizer; Job A M Van der Palen; Marjo J Kerbert-Dreteler; Jeroen J Kolkman

doi:10.1155/2023/2903171

Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase: A Friend against Cholestatic Itch? A Retrospective Observational Data Analysis in Patients with Extrahepatic Cholestasis

Int J Hepatol. 2023 Feb 8:2023:2903171. doi: 10.1155/2023/2903171. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Floris W Haijer¹, Cornelis B Van Vliet¹, Marjolein G J Brusse-Keizer², Job A M Van der Palen², Marjo J Kerbert-Dreteler¹, Jeroen J Kolkman¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical Spectre Twente, Netherlands.
² Department of Statistics, Medical Spectre Twente, Netherlands.

Abstract

Methods: We included 235 patients with chronic extrahepatic cholestasis due to pancreatic cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, or papillary carcinoma.

Results: GGT was significantly higher in patients without pruritus (median 967, IQR 587-1571) compared to patients with pruritus (median 561 IQR 266-1084 IU/l) (p < 0.01). In contrast, median alkaline phosphatase (AP) was 491 U/L (IQR; 353-684) in patients with pruritus and was not significantly different from 518 U/L (IQR; 353-726) in patients without pruritus (p = 0.524). Direct bilirubin was significantly higher in patients with pruritus compared to patients without pruritus (168 μmol/L (IQR; 95-256) vs. 120 μmol/L (IQR; 56.75-185.5)) (p < 0.01). After correcting for the extent of cholestasis via direct bilirubin, the negative association between GGT and pruritus remained significant and became stronger (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Serum GGT activity is inversely associated with the presence of cholestatic itch in patients with chronic extrahepatic cholestasis.