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Is GGT Level Of 247 A Cause For Concern?
My son is 47 yrs old and has had 2 heart attacks both requiring stents being put in. The second heart attack damaged his heart muscle. Recently his primary care doctor ordered a GGT level blood test and the result was 247. He and his doctor are quite concerned about. As a mother who has already lost 2 of her 4 children, I am also concerned.
Mon, 24 Sep 2018
Hi,
The normal value of GGT in the blood of an adult male in 0-30 units per liter. Please be aware that this test alone does not indicate the cause of the high number. Causes of a high GGT include:
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Liver infection.
- Using liver-damaging drugs.
- Lung disease.
However, with your son's medical history a cardiac cause for the elevated GGT is at the top of the list of possibilities. Signs of heart failure can be:
- Reduced exercise tolerance (gets winded when walks up to a flight of stairs or walks a block).
- Wheezes at rest.
- Swelling of ankles and feet.
- Poor appetite.
When there is a family history of high blood cholesterol level, heart disease in young adults is more likely to occur. Other risk factors for heart disease are:
- Overweight.
- High blood pressure.
- Smoking.
- Alcohol.
- Diet high in saturated fat.
- Little exercise.
Your son is at a very heightened risk for further heart disease. I hope he is under the close care of an adult cardiologist who has sub-specialty training arteriosclerotic heart disease in addition to his primary care doctor.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Arnold Zedd,
Pediatrician
The normal value of GGT in the blood of an adult male in 0-30 units per liter. Please be aware that this test alone does not indicate the cause of the high number. Causes of a high GGT include:
- Diabetes.
- Heart failure.
- Liver infection.
- Using liver-damaging drugs.
- Lung disease.
However, with your son's medical history a cardiac cause for the elevated GGT is at the top of the list of possibilities. Signs of heart failure can be:
- Reduced exercise tolerance (gets winded when walks up to a flight of stairs or walks a block).
- Wheezes at rest.
- Swelling of ankles and feet.
- Poor appetite.
When there is a family history of high blood cholesterol level, heart disease in young adults is more likely to occur. Other risk factors for heart disease are:
- Overweight.
- High blood pressure.
- Smoking.
- Alcohol.
- Diet high in saturated fat.
- Little exercise.
Your son is at a very heightened risk for further heart disease. I hope he is under the close care of an adult cardiologist who has sub-specialty training arteriosclerotic heart disease in addition to his primary care doctor.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Arnold Zedd,
Pediatrician
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