Assessment of relationship between galectin-3 and ambulatory ECG-based microvolt T-wave alternans in sustained systolic-diastolic hypertension patients.
OBJECTIVE
Galectin-3 is a marker associated with myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular myocardial index (LVMI). Myocardial fibrosis and LVMI have been reported in many studies to be associated with microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) positivity. In this study, galectin-3 levels of normotensive individuals and sustained systolic-diastolic hypertensive patients were compared and the association between galectin-3 levels and ambulatory ECG-based MTWA was investigated.


METHODS
A total of 184 individuals were included in the study, among whom, 43 were normotensive and 141 had sustained systolic-diastolic hypertension without cardiovascular or chronic renal failure. Galectin-3, MTWA, and LVMI were evaluated in all participants. Galectin-3 levels of hypertensive and normotensive participants were compared. The association between galectin-3, MTWA, LVMI, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was investigated in hypertensive patients.


RESULTS
LVMI and galectin-3 levels were higher among hypertensive patients compared with normotensives (94.9±26.8 vs. 76.4±22.9 g/m, 7.325±2.123 vs. 5.233±1.506 ng/ml; P<0.001, P<0.001). Correlation analysis carried out among the hypertensive patients showed that the galectin-3 level was correlated positively to LVMI, age, and MTWA positivity (r=0.396, P<0.001; r=0.358, P<0.001; r=0.361, P<0.001, respectively), whereas it was correlated negatively to eGFR and male sex (r=-0.364, P<0.001; r=-0.280, P=0.001, respectively). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that LVMI and galectin-3 showed an independent association with MTWA positivity in hypertensive patients (P=0.003 and 0.005, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased galectin-3 levels are associated with ambulatory ECG-based MTWA positivity, decreased eGFR, and increased LVMI in hypertensive patients. This association may be used for risk classification in this patient group.
Departments of aCardiologybBiochemistry, Mehmet AkifErsoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, Training and Research Hospital, IstanbulcDepartment of Cardiology, Fethiye State Hospital, Muğla, Turkey.
Hamdi
H
Pusuroglu
Ozgur
O
Akgul
Mehmet
M
Erturk
Ismail
I
Bolat
Omer
O
Tasbulak
Vesile
V
Ornek
Mehmet
M
Gul
Sinem O
SO
Ozyilmaz
Hayriye A
HA
Yildirim
Uğur
U
Kokturk
Emre
E
Yilmaz
Ali K
AK
Kalkan
Gunduz
G
Durmuş
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D037502:Galectin 3