Abstract
Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a new independent risk factor in the development and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the study was to evaluate whether Gal-3 concentration has prognostic value and if it reflects the progression of atherosclerosis in carotid arteries in patients with CAD after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The analysis included 110 patients who were hospitalized due to AMI, treated with primary coronary intervention (PCI) and further attended a follow-up visit, and 100 healthy volunteers. The Gal-3 concentration and carotid ultrasound were evaluated at baseline and on a follow-up visit. We found that the Gal-3 concentration in the group with hyperlipidemia decreased during the observation (10.7 vs. 7.9 ng/mL, p = 0.00003). Patients rehospitalized during follow up had higher concentration of Gal-3 in the acute phase of myocardial infarction (MI) (10.7 vs. 7.2 ng/mL, p = 0.02; 10.1 vs. 8.0 ng/mL, p = 0.002, respectively). In the group of patients who had none of the following endpoints: subsequent MI, PCI, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or stroke, there was a decrease in Gal-3 concentration at the follow-up visit. Parameters affecting the frequency of a composite endpoint occurrence are: the presence of atheromatous plaque in the carotid artery (p = 0.017), Gal-3 (p = 0.004) and haemoglobin (p = 0.03) concentration. In multivariate analysis, only Gal-3 concentration higher than 9.2 ng/mL at discharge was associated with a nine-fold increase of risk of composite endpoint occurrence (p = 0.0005, OR = 9.47, 95% CI 2.60–34.45). A significant decrease in Gal-3 concentration was observed in the group of patients after AMI without the endpoint occurrence during observation.
Highlights
Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a macrophage- and endothelium-derived mediator actively involved in the regulation of many aspects of inflammatory cell behaviour
The aim of the study was to analyse whether the Gal-3 concentration assessed during at least a 24-month period following myocardial infarction (MI) has any prognostic value, and whether it reflects the progression of atherosclerosis and correlates with the intima-media thickness (IMT) complex and the presence of atheromatous plaque in carotid arteries in this group of patients during long-term observation
Patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) differed considerably from ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with regard to sex; women were more often diagnosed with NSTEMI, while men were diagnosed more often with STEMI (p < 0.005)
Summary
Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a macrophage- and endothelium-derived mediator actively involved in the regulation of many aspects of inflammatory cell behaviour. A higher concentration of Gal-3 is associated with an increased risk for a HF incident and mortality [4,5,6]. Some results suggest that Gal-3 production is involved in the developmental process of atherogenesis [7]. In a mid-term observation, the Gal-3 concentration, marked during 24 h following an acute MI, was observed to be an independent predictive indicator of the increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients after MI [12]. The aim of the study was to analyse whether the Gal-3 concentration assessed during at least a 24-month period following MI has any prognostic value, and whether it reflects the progression of atherosclerosis and correlates with the intima-media thickness (IMT) complex and the presence of atheromatous plaque in carotid arteries in this group of patients during long-term observation
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