title: Association between serum galectin-3 levels and coronary atherosclerosis and plaque burden/structure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Levels of galectin-3, a member of a family of soluble β-galactoside-binding lectins, are reported to be higher in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and metabolic syndrome. Conflicting results exist on the effects of galectin-3 in diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between galectin-3 levels and coronary artery disease (CAD), coronary plaque burden, and plaque structures in patients with type 2 DM.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 158 consecutive patients with type 2 DM undergoing planned coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) were included in this study. The study population was divided into CAD and non-CAD groups according to the presence of CCTA-determined coronary atherosclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Galectin-3 concentrations were significantly higher in the CAD group than in the non-CAD group (1412.0 ± 441.7 vs. 830.2 ± 434.9 pg/ml, P < 0.001). Galectin-3 levels were correlated positively with BMI, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, the total number of diseased vessels, the number of plaques (all, P < 0.001), and the calcified plaque type (P = 0.001). In addition, galectin-3 levels were found to be a significant independent predictor of coronary atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetic patients (P = 021; odds ratio, 1.002; 95% confidence interval, 1.000-1.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Galectin-3 is a novel, promising biomarker that may help identify type 2 diabetic patients who may require early CAD intervention because of the potential risk of coronary atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Departments of aCardiology bBiochemistry, Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital cDepartment of Cardiology, Atakent Hospital, Acibadem University, Istanbul dDepartment of Cardiology, Rize Kackar Government Hospital, Rize, Turkey.
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Seckin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satilmis
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erturk
authors.forename: Huseyin Altug
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Cakmak
authors.forename: Ali Kemal
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kalkan
authors.forename: Sinem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozyilmaz
authors.forename: Vesile
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Diker
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gul
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D037161:Galectins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014421:Turkey; D015854:Up-Regulation; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C428445:LGALS3 protein, human