title: Predictive value of plasma galectin-3 levels in heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  galectin-3 is an emerging biomarker which has been studied in relatively small heart failure (HF) cohorts with predominantly systolic HF. We studied the prognostic value of base-line galectin-3 in a large HF cohort, with preserved and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and compared this to other biomarkers.
  
  
  METHODS
  we studied 592 HF patients who had been hospitalized for HF and were followed for 18 months. The primary end-point was a composite of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  a doubling of galectin-3 levels was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.97 (1.62-2.42) for the primary outcome (P < 0.001). After correction for age, gender, BNP, eGFR, and diabetes the HR was 1.38 (1.07-1.78; P = 0.015). Galectin-3 levels were correlated with higher IL-6 and CRP levels (P < 0.002). Changes of galectin-3 levels after 6 months did not add prognostic information to the base-line value (n = 291); however, combining plasma galectin-3 and BNP levels increased prognostic value over either biomarker alone (ROC analysis, P < 0.05). The predictive value of galectin-3 was stronger in patients with preserved LVEF (n = 114) compared to patients with reduced LVEF (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  galectin-3 is an independent marker for outcome in HF and appears to be particularly useful in HF patients with preserved LVEF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, PO Box 30 001, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands. r.a.deboer@thorax.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Rudolf A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: Dirk J A
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lok
authors.forename: Tiny
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaarsma
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van der Meer
authors.forename: Adriaan A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Voors
authors.forename: Hans L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Hillege
authors.forename: Dirk J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Veldhuisen
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D015415:Biomarkers; D004232:Diuretics; D037502:Galectin 3; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain