Circulating galectin-3 level association with cardiovascular risk factors during peritoneal dialysis
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Surgical Techniques for Catheter Placement and 5/6 Nephrectomy in Murine Models of Peritoneal Dialysis
Published on: July 19, 2018
Xuerui Yang1, Jun Yang1, Youjia Zeng1
1Department of Nephrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 1 Fuhua Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, 518033, Guangdong, China.
Insights
Serum Galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels are linked to cardiovascular disease risk factors in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Higher Gal-3 correlates with markers like BNP and GDF-15, suggesting its potential as a CVD biomarker in PD.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD).
- Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a molecule implicated in CVD mortality, making it a subject of interest in PD patient populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum Galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD).
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 114 PD patients with over 3 months of treatment.
- Serum Gal-3 levels were measured using ELISA.
- Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U tests, t tests, correlation analyses, and multivariate regression.
Main Results:
- Gal-3 levels positively correlated with PD duration, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI).
- A negative correlation was observed between Gal-3 and albumin levels.
- Multivariate regression confirmed positive associations with BNP, GDF-15, PD duration, IVST, and LVMI, and a negative association with albumin.
Conclusions:
- Galectin-3 (Gal-3) shows a strong association with key cardiovascular markers (BNP, GDF-15, IVST, LVMI) in PD patients.
- Further prospective research is warranted to evaluate Gal-3 as a predictive biomarker for adverse cardiovascular events in this population.
Objective:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the primary cause of mortality in patients afflicted with end-stage renal disease and undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment. Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a molecule known to exhibit a correlation with CVD mortality garners considerable interest. The objective of this study was to explore the potential association between serum Gal-3 levels and other CVD risk factors among PD patients.
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, a total of 114 PD patients with a minimum of 3 months of PD treatment were enrolled. Serum Gal-3 levels were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The data of patients with Gal-3 levels higher and lower than 26.744 pg/ml were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests or t tests. Pearson's correlation or Spearman's correlation analysis and multivariate regression were used to assess the associations between the known risk factors for CVD and Gal-3.
Results:
In comparison to the inter-group baseline data, the low Gal-3 group exhibited a higher glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Gal-3 levels correlate positively with PD duration, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), interventricular septal thickness in diastolic (IVST), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Conversely, Gal-3 exhibited a negative correlation with albumin levels. Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between Gal-3 levels and BNP, GDF-15, PD duration, IVST and LVMI. Gal-3 levels were negatively correlated with albumin levels.
Conclusions:
Gal-3 was strongly associated with BNP, GDF-15, IVST and LVMI in patients undergoing PD treatment. Prospective studies should be carried out to determine whether Gal-3 can be a promising biomarker in predicting increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events in PD patients.

