title: Serum galectin-3 levels were associated with proteinuria in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most common and pernicious complication of Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is renal amyloidosis, usually affecting the kidneys, leading to end-stage renal failure. FMF-related renal amyloidosis needed to be diagnosed early. Optimal colchicine dose is effective in preventing and reversing renal amyloidosis. Galectin-3, profibrotic mediator, has regulatory functions in inflammation, fibrosis and tumorigenesis. Galectin-3 is a strong prognostic marker for heart failure. Galectin-3 plays role in diabetic nephropathy and chronic kidney disease. The aim of the study is to investigate whether galectin-3 is related to proteinuria and amyloidosis in FMF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five FMF patients who have no exclusion criteria and healthy controls (n = 36) were included. Serum galectin-3 was measured and morning spot urine was collected for determination of the protein/creatinine ratio (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum Galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in FMF patients than the control group [969.66 (3825) pg/mL vs. 238 (921) pg/mL, respectively; P<0.001]. We classified into two groups: Group1 (n = 48) had FMF patients with proteniuria, Group2 (n = 27) had FMF patients without proteinuria. Group1 had higher levels of galectin-3 than Group2 [1106(3812) pg/mL vs. 867.3(1433) pg/mL, P < 0.001]. Galectin-3 levels were correlated with PCR in whole group and FMF group (r = 0.785, P < 0.001 and r = 0.803, P < 0.001). In ROC curve, best cutoff value = 581.50 pg/mL was used to detect proteinuria (sensitivity = 91.7 %, specificity = 71.4 %, AUC = 0.879) and optimal cutoff value = 1458.00 pg/mL was an indicator of nephrotic-range proteinuric (sensitivity = 100 %, specificity = 92.1 %, AUC = 0.983).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Galectin-3 is associated with proteinuria and renal amyloidosis in FMF. Galectin-3 may play role in pathogenesis of amyloidosis.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Turgut Ozal University, Alparslan Türkes Cad. No: 57, Emek, 06510, Ankara, Turkey. drhakkiyilmaz@yahoo.com.
authors: Hakki
authors: H
authors: Yilmaz
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Yenimahalle State Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Osman
authors: O
authors: Inan
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Agri State Hospital, Agri, Turkey.
authors: Tahir
authors: T
authors: Darcin
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Turgut Ozal University, Alparslan Türkes Cad. No: 57, Emek, 06510, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mukadder Ayse
authors: MA
authors: Bilgic
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Turgut Ozal University, Alparslan Türkes Cad. No: 57, Emek, 06510, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Akcay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3
keywords: FMF; Galectin-3; Proteinuria; Renal amyloidosis