title: Temporal expression of galectin-3 following myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Galectin-3 is a pro-inflammatory, pro-fibrotic molecule implicated in the pathogenesis of heart failure, and associated with poor prognostic outcome. When measured following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a high plasma galectin-3 predicts greater 30-day morbidity and mortality, and increased heart failure incidence at a median of 2 years. This study aims to elucidate the temporal aspects of galectin-3 expression immediately post-STEMI and how expression relates to severity of myocardial injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma galectin-3 levels were compared in 53 STEMI patients and 23 control patients with stable angina. Consecutive plasma galectin-3 levels, measured at a mean of 30 hours (sample A) and 54 hours (sample B) post pain, and analysis of galectin-3 vs time since onset of pain/time since reperfusion allowed assessment of temporal expression in STEMI patients. Myocardial injury markers included troponin and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Circulating galectin-3 levels were significantly higher in STEMI patients than control patients when measured at a mean of 30 hours post pain (t = 2.72, df = 66, P = 0.008). However, levels had significantly decreased when measured 24 hours later (t = 2.13, df = 47, P = 0.039), with a negative linear relationship apparent between plasma galectin-3 levels and time since reperfusion on univariate analysis (OR = 0.871, 95% CI = 0.779-0.975, P = 0.021). A significantly lower circulating galectin-3 concentration was also found for sample A in those reperfused within 3 hours post-onset of pain (OR 0.045, 95% CI 0.003-0.669, P = 0.029).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma galectin-3 levels vary significantly following a STEMI over a short time period, in relation to timing of reperfusion.
authors: Thomas D
authors: TD
authors: Milner
authors: Alexandra C
authors: AC
authors: Viner
authors: Alison C
authors: AC
authors: MacKinnon
authors: Tariq
authors: T
authors: Sethi
authors: Andrew D
authors: AD
authors: Flapan
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014336:Troponin / Q000097:blood; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D037502:Galectin 3; D014336:Troponin