Diagnostic Value of Galectin-3 in Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background and Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by acute exacerbations. Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress play an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Exacerbations in COPD reduce the quality of life and are associated with rapid disease progression. Galectin-3 is a beta-galactoside-binding lectin of approximately 30 kDa with pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic properties. This study aims to analyze the efficacy of serum galectin-3 in predicting exacerbations in COPD patients. Materials and Methods: Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of all patients were recorded and blood samples were collected. A total of 58 consecutive COPD patients, including 28 patients (19 male and 9 female) with stable COPD and 30 patients (23 male and 7 female) with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD), were included in the study. Results: Serum galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in the AECOPD group compared to the stable COPD group. A logistic regression analysis revealed that increased galectin-3 levels and disease duration were independent predictors of COPD exacerbation (OR = 5.322, 95% CI: 1.178-24.052, p = 0.03; and OR = 1.297, 95% CI: 1.028-1.635, p = 0.028; respectively). Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrated that Galectin-3 was a strong and independent predictor of exacerbations in COPD patients.