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Serum concentrations of galectin-3 in patients with cardiac syndrome X
Evin Bozcali1, Veli Polat2, Gonul Aciksari2
1Department of Cardiology, Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Serum galectin-3 is elevated in patients with cardiac syndrome X (CSX), suggesting a potential role in this condition. Further research is needed to confirm galectin-3
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomarkers
- Inflammation
Background:
- Cardiac Syndrome X (CSX) is characterized by microvascular dysfunction with uncertain mechanisms.
- Galectin-3 is an emerging biomarker for cardiovascular fibrosis and inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of galectin-3 in patients with Cardiac Syndrome X.
- To determine if galectin-3 is an independent predictor of CSX.
Main Methods:
- Serum galectin-3 and hs-CRP levels were measured in 115 CSX patients and 74 healthy controls.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare groups and identify predictors of CSX.
Main Results:
- Galectin-3 concentrations were significantly higher in CSX patients compared to controls (p < 0.0001).
- Galectin-3 levels remained significantly elevated after adjusting for diabetes, hypertension, and family history of CAD.
- Galectin-3 correlated positively with hs-CRP (r = 0.16, p = 0.03).
- Galectin-3, hs-CRP, fasting glucose, uric acid, and family history of CAD were independent predictors of CSX.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum galectin-3 is associated with Cardiac Syndrome X.
- Further large-scale studies are required to confirm the link between galectin-3, fibrosis, and CSX.
Objective:
Microvascular dysfunction has been reported in cardiac syndrome X (CSX), even though the underlying mechanisms still remain uncertain. Galectin-3 has been recently recognized as a biomarker of cardiovascular fibrosis and inflammation. We sought to investigate the role of galectin-3 in the CSX.
Methods:
We studied 115 consecutive CSX patients (mean age 55.43 ± 8.71 years, 36 men) and 74 healthy controls (mean age 54.53 ± 10.07 years, 31 men). Serum concentrations of galectin-3 and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured on the blood samples.
Results:
Galectin-3 concentrations were significantly higher in patients with CSX compared to controls (0.90 ng/ml; IQR, 0.40-1.70 ng/ml vs 0.40 ng/ml; IQR, 0.36-0.44 ng/ml, p < 0.0001). Although, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) were significantly higher among patients with CSX, following adjustment for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and family history of CAD, serum galectin-3 concentrations were still found significantly increased in patients with CSX. Galectin-3 concentrations correlated positively with hs-CRP (r = 0.16, p = 0.03). In addition, concentrations of galectin-3, hs-CRP, fasting glucose, uric acid and family history of CAD were determined as independent predictors of the CSX.
Conclusion:
It was found that galectin-3 serum concentrations are higher in patients with CSX compared to healthy controls. Further studies on larger population are needed to confirm the relation between the fibrosis and the CSX, as well as to explore the potential role of galectin-3 in the CSX.
