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Galectin-3 as a novel biomarker in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
J P Stack1, R C Fries2, L Kruckman2
1VCA Loomis Basin Veterinary Clinic, Loomis, CA, USA.
Insights
Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is elevated in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), correlating with cardiac changes. This finding supports Gal-3 as a potential biomarker for feline cardiac disease.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Biomarker Discovery
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a known biomarker for fibrosis in humans, predicting adverse cardiac events.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common cardiac disease in cats, often associated with myocardial fibrosis.
- Identifying reliable biomarkers for feline cardiac disease is crucial for diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Galectin-3 (Gal-3) as a potential cardiac biomarker in cats diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
- To assess the correlation between Gal-3 levels and cardiac structural changes, including myocardial fibrosis, in cats with HCM.
Main Methods:
- Eighty cats were enrolled: 25 healthy controls, 35 with American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) stage B HCM, and 21 with ACVIM stage C HCM.
- Echocardiography, health panels, and thyroxin levels were assessed for all cats.
- Galectin-3, Troponin I, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured.
- Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was used to determine myocardial extracellular volume (ECV) in a subset of cats.
Main Results:
- Galectin-3 levels were significantly increased in cats with HCM (stages B and C) compared to healthy controls.
- No significant difference in Gal-3 levels was observed between ACVIM stage B and C HCM cats.
- Galectin-3 showed significant positive correlations with left atrial dimensions and CMR-derived ECV in HCM cats.
- NT-proBNP effectively discriminated between all groups, while Troponin I differentiated only between stage C HCM and normal cats.
Conclusions:
- Circulating Galectin-3 levels are elevated in cats with HCM.
- Galectin-3 levels positively correlate with left atrial enlargement and myocardial fibrosis (ECV) in cats with HCM.
- Further research is warranted to explore the relationship between Gal-3, myocardial fibrosis, and clinical outcomes in feline cardiac disease.
Introduction/Objectives:
Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a circulating biomarker of fibrosis. In humans, increased Gal-3 is predictive of myocardial fibrosis and adverse cardiac events. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential for Gal-3 as a cardiac biomarker in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Materials And Methods:
Eighty cats were enrolled (25 healthy cats with normal hearts, 35 with HCM American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) stage B, and 21 with HCM ACVIM stage C). Each cat received a full echocardiogram, health panel, and total thyroxin level. Galectin-3 levels were measured for each enrolled patient. Troponin I and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were obtained for the majority of cats. Additionally, 17 ACVIM stage B cats underwent cardiac-gated magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging to assess myocardial extracellular volume (ECV), a noninvasive measure of myocardial fibrosis.
Results:
Galectin-3 levels are increased in cats with HCM ACVIM stage B and C compared to healthy cats; however, no significant differences were detected between ACVIM stage B and ACVIM stage C cats. In HCM-affected cats, Galectin-3 showed statistically significant correlations with left atrial dimensions, left atrial:aorta ratio, and CMR-derived ECV. Quantitative NT-proBNP showed excellent discrimination between all groups and troponin I was able to discriminate between ACVIM stage C and normal cats, but not between other groups.
Conclusions:
Circulating Gal-3 levels are increased in cats with HCM and is positively correlated with left atrial dimensions and ECV in affected cats. Further studies evaluating the relationship between Gal-3, myocardial fibrosis, and clinical outcomes are warranted.
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