Novel marker in proliferative and involuting phases of infantile hemangioma

Abstract

Background No single theory can explain the characteristics of infantile hemangioma (IH), but the emergence of new biomarkers will help to discover a general mechanism in its pathogenesis.Objective To evaluate serum level of galectin-3 (gal-3) in patients with IH and its possible role in the pathogenesis during proliferative and involuting phases.Patients and methods This case–control study included 60 patients with IH as group 1 (G1). They were subdivided into 30 patients with age ranged from 3 to 12 months (proliferative phase, G1A) and 30 patients with age ranged from more than 12 to 24 months (involuting phase, G1B). In addition, 20 age-matched and sex-matched healthy participants who served as a control group (G2) were included. The diagnosis was based on clinical bases and ultrasonic examination. Assessment of serum level of gal-3 was done by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits in all studied groups and was correlated with clinical findings of IH.Results Serum gal-3 levels were significantly higher in the patient group (G1) than controls (G2) (P=0.001). Serum gal-3 levels were significantly higher in G1B compared with G1A and controls (P<0.001 for both). Serum gal-3 level was higher in G1A than control group, but it did not reach statistical significance (P=0.67).Conclusion Serum gal-3 may have a role in the pathogenesis of IH possibly through its pro-angiogenic effect in the proliferative phase and induction of fibrosis in involuting phase.