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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

Published on: June 16, 2014

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Serum Galectin-3 Level Is Positively Associated with Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Bang-Gee Hsu1,2, Chih-Hsien Wang1,2, Yu-Hsien Lai1,2

  • 1School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 97004, Taiwan.

Toxins
|August 26, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Serum galectin-3 and C-reactive protein (CRP) are linked to poorer endothelial function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. These biomarkers may help identify endothelial dysfunction in CKD.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Nephrology
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Galectin-3 is a known biomarker for cardiovascular stress and inflammation, potentially predicting adverse cardiovascular events.
  • The precise relationship between galectin-3 and endothelial function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between serum galectin-3 levels and endothelial function in patients with stages 3-5 CKD.
  • To determine if galectin-3 is a valuable biomarker for endothelial dysfunction in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum galectin-3 levels in 130 CKD patients.
  • Endothelial function was assessed noninvasively using the digital thermal monitoring test, quantified as a vascular reactivity index (VRI).
  • Patients were categorized into poor, intermediate, and good vascular reactivity groups based on VRI values.

Main Results:

  • Decreased VRI (indicating poorer endothelial function) was significantly associated with increased serum galectin-3 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
  • Serum galectin-3 positively correlated with CRP and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
  • Multivariable analysis confirmed that serum galectin-3 and CRP levels were significant negative predictors of VRI.

Conclusions:

  • Galectin-3, in conjunction with CRP, is associated with endothelial function in CKD patients.
  • Galectin-3 shows potential as a biomarker for endothelial dysfunction and a modulator of endothelial function in individuals with CKD.

Keywords:
C-reactive proteinchronic kidney diseaseendothelial functiongalectin-3vascular reactivity index

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