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Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
[Galectin-3, Markers of Oxidative Stress and Renal Dysfunction in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure]
E A Medvedeva1, I I Berezin1, Y V Shchukin1
1Samara State Medical University, Samara, Russia.
Insights
In chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with prior myocardial infarction, galectin-3 levels increase with disease severity. Galectin-3 correlates with markers of kidney dysfunction and oxidative stress.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Chronic heart failure (CHF) is often associated with renal dysfunction and oxidative stress.
- Galectin-3 is implicated in cardiac remodeling and fibrosis.
- Understanding the interplay between galectin-3, renal function, and oxidative stress in CHF is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine plasma galectin-3 levels in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of varying severity.
- To assess markers of renal dysfunction and oxidative stress in these patients.
- To investigate the correlations between galectin-3, renal dysfunction, and oxidative stress markers in CHF.
Main Methods:
- 157 CHF patients with prior myocardial infarction were enrolled and categorized by NYHA functional class (II, III, IV).
- Clinical examination, echocardiography, and laboratory tests were performed.
- Plasma levels of galectin-3, NT-proBNP, oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (oxLDLC), SH-groups, creatinine, uric acid, and cystatin-C were measured.
Main Results:
- Galectin-3 levels significantly increased with CHF severity (median 10, 19, and 38 ng/ml for NYHA class II, III, and IV, respectively; p<0.001).
- Galectin-3 positively correlated with oxLDLC (r=0.52-0.63, p<0.01) and negatively with SH-groups (r=-0.58 to -0.71, p<0.01).
- Significant correlations were observed between galectin-3 and cystatin-C, glomerular filtration rate, and uric acid.
Conclusions:
- Plasma galectin-3 concentration is associated with CHF severity in patients with prior myocardial infarction.
- Galectin-3 levels correlate significantly with markers of renal dysfunction and plasma oxidative stress.
- These findings suggest galectin-3 as a potential biomarker reflecting the complex pathophysiology of CHF.
Objective:
to determine levels of galectin-3, markers of renal dysfunction, and plasma oxidative stress; to assess their correlation in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of various severity.
Material And Methods:
We included in this study 157 CHF patients (with documented prior myocardial infarction. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to their NYHA functional class (group 1 - class II n=60, group 2 - class III n=52, group 3 - class IV n=45). All patients underwent clinical examination, echocardiography. Laboratory parameters included measurement of plasma levels of galectin-3, NT-proBNP, as well as markers of oxidative stress (oxidized low density lipoprotein cholesterol [oxLDLC], SH-groups) and renal dysfunction (creatinine, uric acid, cystatin-C).
Results:
The level of galectin-3 (median) in groups 1, 2, and 3 was 10, 19 and 38 ng/ml respectively. There were significant differences between groups (p<0,001). In all groups levels of galectin-3 significantly (p<0.01) correlated with those of oxLDL (positively) and SH-groups (negatively): r1=0.52, r2=0.59, r3=0.63, p<0.01, and r1=-0.58, r2=-0.65, r3=-0.71, respectively. Correlation analysis also revealed close and moderate correlations between galectin-3 and cystatin-C, glomerular filtration rate, and uric acid.
Conclusions:
In patients with CHF and prior myocardial infarction plasma concentration of galectin-3 was associated with severity of CHF and significantly correlated with markers of renal dysfunction and plasma oxidative stress.
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