Evaluation of Galectin-3 as a Novel Diagnostic Biomarker in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

• Published in: Journal of laboratory physicians Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 126 - 132
• Main Authors: Kanukurti, Jyothirmayi, Mohammed, Noorjahan, Sreedevi, N. N., Khan, Siraj Ahmed, Baba, K.S.S. Sai, Bhaskar, M. Vijaya, Satish, O. Sai, Naushad, Shaik Mohammad, Mohan, Iyyapu Krishna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd 01.08.2020; Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: galectin-3; heart failure; nt-probnp; Original; Original Article; preserved ejection fraction; sensitivity; Heart failure; preserved ejection fraction; NT-proBNP; sensitivity; Galectin-3
• ISSN: 0974-2727; 0974-7826
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1716608

Abstract Background  Heart failure is a complex cardiovascular disease with a variety of etiologies and heterogeneity. The N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) value has limited usefulness in diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Aim  The aim of the present study is to evaluate serum Galectin-3 as a diagnostic biomarker in patients with HFpEF and to compare Galectin-3 with NT-proBNP levels. Materials and Methods  A cross-sectional case–control study including 63 cases of heart failure with ejection fraction ≥50% confirmed by echocardiography. NT-proBNP levels in serum were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and Galectin-3 levels in serum were measured by using an enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay kit. Results  The median levels of serum Galectin-3 and NT-proBNP in patients were significantly higher than those of controls (26.59 vs. 5.27 and 927 vs. 49.3, p < 0.0001). A positive correlation was observed between serum levels of Galection-3 and NT-ProBNP ( r : 0.21, p = 0.048). At cut-off values of 10.1 ng/mL and 160 pg/mL, serum Galectin-3 has 77.78% sensitivity, 95% specificity with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.93, and serum NT-proBNP has 71.43% sensitivity, 100% specificity with an AUC of 0.87, respectively, for diagnosing HFpEF. The comparison of receiver operating characteristics curves showed that Galectin-3 has better AUC compared with NT-proBNP in diagnosing HFpEF. Serum Galectin-3 showed a positive correlation with NT-proBNP and lipid parameters. Conclusion  Galectin-3 with higher sensitivity and AUC can be used as a valuable biomarker for the diagnosis of HFpEF. Simultaneous testing of both Galectin-3 and NT-proBNP can further improve the detection of patients with HFpEF.