title: The ARCHITECT galectin-3 assay: comparison with other automated and manual assays for the measurement of circulating galectin-3 levels in heart failure.
abstract: Heart failure (HF) is a common disease and affects millions of patients worldwide. Diagnosis, risk assessment and treatment of HF are difficult and therefore there is a need for additional tools to improve clinical performance. Biomarkers may be helpful in this respect. Galectin-3 is a relatively new biomarker that has been shown to have strong associations with the development of HF. Galectin-3 plays a role in inflammation and fibrosis, which are key elements in the pathophysiology of HF. Circulating plasma or serum galectin-3 levels have strong associations with the severity of HF and may be used to prognosticate or risk-stratify HF patients. Currently, there are several commercially available assays that can measure circulating galectin-3. This article describes the role galectin-3 plays in HF and its prognostic consequences. We will summarize the technical specifications of various manual and automated galectin-3 assays, which may help in HF management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wouter C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Meijers
authors.forename: A Rogier
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: van der Velde
authors.forename: Rudolf A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Boer
mesh_terms: D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D037502:Galectin 3