Galectin-3 Concentration in Liver Diseases.

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Biomarker Discovery
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatitis, represent a significant global health burden.
• Accurate assessment of liver fibrosis and disease stage is crucial for patient management and prognosis.
• Existing biomarkers require further validation for clinical utility in diverse liver conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate serum galectin-3 concentrations in patients with various liver diseases.
• To compare galectin-3 as a biomarker against the hyaluronic acid, albumin, and prothrombin index (HAPRI) score.
• To assess the correlation of galectin-3 with liver disease type and severity, including Child-Pugh classification.

Main Methods:

• Serum samples were collected from 109 patients (alcoholic cirrhosis, non-alcoholic cirrhosis, toxic hepatitis) and 20 healthy controls.
• Galectin-3 levels were quantified using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay.
• The HAPRI index was calculated, and galectin-3 levels were analyzed in relation to disease type and Child-Pugh class.

Main Results:

• Serum galectin-3 was significantly elevated in all studied liver disease groups compared to healthy controls.
• Significant differences in galectin-3 levels were observed between alcoholic cirrhosis, non-alcoholic cirrhosis, and toxic hepatitis.
• Galectin-3 levels correlated positively with cirrhosis severity, being highest in Child-Pugh class C.
• Galectin-3 demonstrated high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, comparable to the HAPRI index.

Conclusions:

• Serum galectin-3 is a valuable biomarker for detecting liver fibrosis in cirrhosis and toxic hepatitis.
• Galectin-3 effectively reflects the stage of liver damage, offering clinical utility similar to the HAPRI index.
• Further research may establish galectin-3 as a routine diagnostic tool in hepatology.