title: Serum concentrations of galectin-3 in patients with cardiac syndrome X.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microvascular dysfunction has been reported in cardiac syndrome X (CSX), even though the underlying mechanisms still remain uncertain. Galectin-3 has been recently recognized as a biomarker of cardiovascular fibrosis and inflammation. We sought to investigate the role of galectin-3 in the CSX.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 115 consecutive CSX patients (mean age 55.43 ± 8.71 years, 36 men) and 74 healthy controls (mean age 54.53 ± 10.07 years, 31 men). Serum concentrations of galectin-3 and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured on the blood samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Galectin-3 concentrations were significantly higher in patients with CSX compared to controls (0.90 ng/ml; IQR, 0.40-1.70 ng/ml vs 0.40 ng/ml; IQR, 0.36-0.44 ng/ml, p < 0.0001). Although, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) were significantly higher among patients with CSX, following adjustment for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and family history of CAD, serum galectin-3 concentrations were still found significantly increased in patients with CSX. Galectin-3 concentrations correlated positively with hs-CRP (r = 0.16, p = 0.03). In addition, concentrations of galectin-3, hs-CRP, fasting glucose, uric acid and family history of CAD were determined as independent predictors of the CSX.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was found that galectin-3 serum concentrations are higher in patients with CSX compared to healthy controls. Further studies on larger population are needed to confirm the relation between the fibrosis and the CSX, as well as to explore the potential role of galectin-3 in the CSX.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Evin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bozcali
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: dr.velipolat@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Veli
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gonul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aciksari
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Opan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim Halil
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Bayrak
authors.affiliation: Duzen Laboratory, Cemal Sahir Sok. No. 14, 34383, Mecidiyekoy, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurcan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paker
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karakaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D017566:Microvascular Angina / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D037502:Galectin 3; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Cardiac syndrome X; Fibrosis; Galectin-3; Inflammation