Serum Galectin-3 and Subsequent Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Subjects With Childhood-Onset Type 1 Diabetes: A Cohort Study

Abstract

<a><i>Objective:</i></a> To study whether serum galectin-3 and other biomarkers of inflammation predict coronary heart disease (CHD) in subjects with longstanding childhood-onset type 1 diabetes. <p><i>Research, design and methods:</i> A population-based nation-wide cohort of 299 subjects with type 1 diabetes diagnosed in Norway at age <15 years during 1973-1982. They were examined in 2002-2003 at mean age of 33 years (range 21-44), with mean diabetes duration of 24 years (range 19-30). Subjects were followed through December 31, 2017 for their first CHD event registered by a hospitalization or cause of death using nation-wide registries. Stored serum samples were available for 296 subjects and analyzed for interleukin (IL)-6, IL-6 receptor, IL-18, high sensitivity-C-reactive protein, matrix metalloproteinases-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, galectin-3 and high sensitivity troponin T (hs-TNT). Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for CHD per standard deviation increase in biomarker were estimated using Cox regression. </p> <p><i>Results:</i> Of 295 subjects, 40 (13.6%) had documented CHD event during mean follow-up of 14.4 years (range 0.5 - 16). IL-6 (aHR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.07 – 1.63), galectin-3 (aHR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.09 – 1.80) and TIMP-1 (aHR 1.37, 95% CI 1.04 – 1.81) were significant predictors of CHD after adjustment for conventional risk factors. </p> <p><i>Conclusion:</i><b> </b>Galectin-3 was significantly associated with future CHD in subjects with type 1 diabetes, and if the results are replicated in larger studies it may aid in prediction together with conventional risk factors for CHD. <b><br> </b></p>