title: Predictive value of Galectin-3 for the occurrence of coronary artery disease and prognosis after myocardial infarction and its association with carotid IMT values in these patients: A mid-term prospective cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of Galectin-3(Gal-3) in atherosclerosis progression has not been definitely acknowledged. The aim of the study was to establish the following: whether Gal-3 may act as an independent risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD) occurrence and its advancement, if Gal-3 has potential relations with classical and new markers of cardiovascular risk (carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), and whether Gal-3 may be a marker of mortality in the group of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) during mid-term follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group was composed of 233 patients with MI and 100 patients with a stable CAD. Selected risk factors were assessed, Gal-3 concentrations and cIMT were measured. The control group was composed of 100 healthy individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study group (MI and CAD patients) Gal-3 concentration was significantly higher than in the controls--median 7.9 ng/ml (p = 0.0001) and 10.7 ng/ml (p = 0.00001) vs. 5.5 ng/ml, respectively. Patients with 3-vessel disease had higher levels of Gal-3 than patients with 1-or 2-vessel disease (9.2 ng/ml vs 7.4 ng/ml, p = 0.003). In the group of MI patients who died during the follow-up (average period - 2.8 years), we found a significantly higher concentration of Gal-3 (20.0 ng/ml vs 8.0 ng/ml, p = 0.0005) and cIMT values (common carotid artery(CCA): 1.4 ± 0.4 mm vs. 1.0 ± 0.3 mm, p = 0.03; carotid bulb(CB): 2.3 ± 0.5 mm vs. 1.9 ± 0.4 mm, p = 0.009). In the model of multivariate logistic regression analysis, the variables influencing the mortality after MI during follow-up were: age>65 years, Gal-3 concentration>8.7 ng/ml, IMT values and plaque occurrence in CB, previous MI and EF<40%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gal-3 is an independent risk factor of CAD occurrence, but cIMT values are better markers of CAD advancement. Both Gal-3 concentration>8.7 ng/ml and IMT values in CB were an independent predictive indicators of increased risk of all-cause mortality in patients after MI during mid-term follow up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University, Ul. Sklodowskiej 24A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland. Electronic address: anlila@poczta.onet.pl.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lisowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University, Ul. Sklodowskiej 24A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University, Ul. Sklodowskiej 24A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tycińska
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University, Ul. Waszyngtona 15A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Motybel
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University, Ul. Sklodowskiej 24A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamiński
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University, Ul. Sklodowskiej 24A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Święcki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University, Ul. Sklodowskiej 24A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Włodzimierz J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Musiał
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University, Ul. Waszyngtona 15A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Violetta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dymicka-Piekarska
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D037161:Galectins; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C428445:LGALS3 protein, human
keywords: Acute coronary syndromes; Galectin-3; Intima-media thickness; Stable coronary artery disease