Predictive value of circulating galectin-3 in patients with multiple myeloma in remission

Abstract

Objective. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of circulating galectin-3 for cumulative survival in patients with multiple myeloma in full or partial remission.Materials and methods. Eighty nine subjects with multiple myeloma in full or partial remission were enrolled into the study. Observation period was up to 12 months. Blood samples for biomarkers measurements were collected. Circulating level of galectin-3 was measured with ELISA method.Results and Conclusions. Ninety two cumulative clinical events occurred in 36 patients (40.5%) within the follow-up, with their distribution being as follows: 8 cardiovascular deaths, 46 cardiac arrhythmias, 8 cardiac ischemic events, 2 strokes, 8 chronic heart failures and 22 hospital admissions for cardiovascular reasons. Medians of circulating levels of galectin-3 in free-events subject cohort and subjects cohort with cardiovascular events were 5.17 ng/ml (95% confidence interval [CI]=2.87–7.78 ng/ml) and 17.57 ng/ml (95% CI=11.36–23.79 ng/ml) (р<0.001). In multivariate logistic regression circulating galectin-3 independently predicted cumulative cardiovascular events (odds ratio [OR]=1.10; 95% CI=1.01–1.13; р = 0.001) within 12 months of observation period.Among patients with documented multiple myeloma in remission increased circulating galectin-3 associates with increased cumulative cardiovascular events.