title: Long-term biological variability of galectin-3 after heart transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Galectin-3 is an emerging biomarker of heart failure and of myocardial fibrosis risk. Monitoring of galectin-3 is essential during treatment with galectin-3 inhibitors. The aim of our study was to assess long-term biological variability in a specific group of unhealthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The biological variability of galectin-3 was measured in a group of 44 patients after heart transplantation (HTx). Six samples were taken from each patient during a 12-month period. Galectin-3 was measured with an Abbott Architect automated immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraindividual (CVi) and interindividual (CVg) variabilities were calculated together with the reference change value (RCV), the log-normal RCV for increase (RCV+), and the log-normal RCV for decrease (RCV-). The CVi, CVg, RCV, RCV+, and RCV- were 28.2%, 35.6%, 78.6%, 116%, and -53.7%, respectively. The index of individuality was 0.79.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concentrations of galectin-3 in patients followed 12 months after HTx fluctuated around the homeostatic point, with CVi of approximately 28%. RCVs of +116% (log-normal increase) and -54% (log-normal decrease) mean that the concentration of galectin-3 would need to approximately double or decrease by half to indicate a new process.
authors.forename: Janka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Franeková
authors.forename: Zdeněk
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kubíček
authors.forename: Lenka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hošková
authors.forename: Markéta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kotrbatá
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sečník
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kautzner
authors.forename: Antonín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jabor
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3