The role of galectin-3 in the diagnosis of chronic heart failure

Abstract

Objective To investigate serum galectin-3 levels in patients with chronic heart failure and evaluate its clinical significance for heart failure.Methods A total of 108 chronic heart failure patients were selected.The selected patients were divided into three groups according to the classification of New York Heart Association (NYHA,from degree Ⅱ to Ⅳ).In addition,30 healthy persons were chosen as control group.All the patients received cardiac ultrasound examination.Plasma levels of N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP),serum levels of galectin-3 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured and analyzed.Results Galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in chronic heart failure patients compared with control group(P ＜ 0.05).In chronic heart failure group,the increase of serum concentration of galectin-3 was correlated with the degree of NYHA function classification.Correlation analysis showed that blood level of galectin 3 was strongly positive correlation with concentration of NT-proBNP and IL-6.There was no correlation between galectin-3 with the cause of heart failure,left ventricular diameter(LVD),and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).Conclusions The levels of galectin-3 was significantly increased in chronic heart failure,and was correlated with degree of heart failure.Galectin-3 might be a new biomarker of heart failure and could provide additive value to NT-proBNP levels in the diagnosis of heart failure. Key words: Galectin 3/blood; Heart failure/diagnosis ; Natriuretic peptide, brain/blood; Interleukin-6/blood