title: Using the galectin-3 test to predict mortality in heart failure patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a new biomarker for assessing prognosis of heart failure (HF) patients. This systemic review and meta-analysis aims to examine Gal-3's ability in assessing prognosis of HF patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched MEDLINE and Embase up to November 2014. Test performance characteristics were summarized using forest plots and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curves.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diagnostic odds ratio of Gal-3 in predicting mortality in chronic HF patients was 2.36 (95% CI: 1.71-3.26) and 2.30 (95% CI: 1.76-3.01) in acute HF patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated levels of Gal-3 are associated with mortality in both acute and chronic HF patients. However, current evidence does not support sole use of Gal-3 for prognosis evaluation of HF patients.
authors: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Yueh-Sheng
authors: YS
authors: Chen
authors: School of Public Health, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Weng-Tein
authors: WT
authors: Gi
authors: Department of Rehabilitation & Physical Medicine, Kaohsiung Veteran General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Tin-Yun
authors: TY
authors: Liao
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Meng-Tse Gabriel
authors: MT
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Rehabilitation & Physical Medicine, Taipei Veteran General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Si-Huei
authors: SH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Wan-Ting
authors: WT
authors: Hsu
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.|Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Shy-Shin
authors: SS
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Emergency Medicine & Department of General Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin Branch, Douliou, Taiwan.
authors: Chien-Chang
authors: CC
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D037502:Galectin 3
keywords: Galectin-3; heart failure; prognostic marker