Serum Galectin-3 in Diabetic Foot Infections: A Case-Control Evaluation of Its Diagnostic and Severity-Grading...

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a galactose-binding lectin released from immune cells that modulates the immune response and plays a role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and related vascular complications. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum Gal-3 levels and infection and inflammatory processes among patients with type 2 DM, diabetic foot infection (DFI), and healthy controls.

Patients with DFI, patients with type 2 DM without signs of infection, and healthy controls without comorbidities admitted to our clinic were included in the study. Serum Gal-3 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 21.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 for all tests.

Thirty-six patients with DFI, 24 patients with type 2 DM without signs of infection, and 24 healthy controls were included in the study. The median Gal-3 level was 232.54 pg/mL among patients with DFI, 209.14 pg/mL among patients with type 2 DM without infection, and 277.85 pg/mL among healthy group. No statistically significant difference in Gal-3 levels was found among the three groups (p > 0.05). Sixteen (44.4%) patients with DFI were classified as PEDIS grade 4, 11 (30.6%) as PEDIS grade 3, and 9 (25%) as PEDIS grade 2. No statistically significant difference in Gal-3 levels was observed across PEDIS grades (p > 0.05). There were no statistically significant associations between Gal-3 levels and C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, leukocyte count, or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p > 0.05).

In our study, Gal-3 levels did not differ significantly among patients with DFI, patients with type 2 DM without infection, and healthy controls. More comprehensive studies are needed to clarify the potential diagnostic and severity-assessment value of Gal-3 in DFI.

Graphical Abstract.