Abstract: Background: Inflammation and oxidative stress exacerbate and raise the risk of CAD and its related diseases, including Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study evaluated the status of Glutathione S–transferase in coronary artery disease patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials & Methods: 64 coronary artery disease patients of either gender were selected. Based on whether these patients had diabetes or not, they were divided into group I and group II with diabetes and without diabetes respectively. Equal number of healthy controls were put in group III. Parameters such as serum GST activity, total antioxidant status, plasma GSH levels, serum MDA and lipid profile was assessed.

Results: Out of 64 patients, 40 were males and 24 were females. The mean GST level in group I was 140.3 IU/L, in group II was 125.8 IU/L and in group III was 62.4 IU/L. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). In group I, group II and group III, mean MDA (µmol/l) level was 8.3, 7.1 and 5.7 respectively. The mean GSH (µmol/gm of Hb) level was 8.8, 8.9 and 8.9 respectively. The mean TAS (mm/L) level was 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4 respectively. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05).

Conclusion: Serum GST has been found to be a useful indicator of the level of oxidative stress present in both Type 2 Diabetes mellitus and CAD patients. One defense against elevated oxidative stress is elevated serum GST activity.