title: A pilot study to demonstrate diagnostic potential of galectin-3 levels in saliva.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Heart failure (HF) affects millions of older individuals in both developed and low/middle-income countries. Serum galectin-3 levels have been shown to have prognostic value. However, its use as a diagnostic biomarker has not been explored. The aim was to establish a saliva galectin-3 reference range and to demonstrate the potential diagnostic utility of salivary and serum galectin-3 levels in assessing HF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood and saliva samples were collected from age-matched healthy controls (n=51) and patients with HF (n=63). Customised immunoassays were developed to quantify salivary galectin-3 levels. The diagnostic performances of these assays were evaluated by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The galectin-3 concentrations were significantly elevated in saliva and serum samples of patients with HF compared with controls (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Using ROC curve analysis, both serum and salivary galectin-3 gave area under the curve (AUC)=0.86 and AUC=0.73, respectively. There was also a significant correlation (r=0.4, p<0.01) between serum and salivary galectin-3 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the first time, we have quantified galectin-3 levels in human saliva and have demonstrated potential clinical utility in diagnosing HF. Further, larger multicentre clinical trials are needed before salivary galectin-3 levels can be implemented in a clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: The School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovations, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovations, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Yunxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chata
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brazzale
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Atherton
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mater Adult Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Karam
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kostner
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, Princess Alexandra Hospitals, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Goce
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dimeski
authors.affiliation: The School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovations, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Chamindie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Punyadeera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001798:Blood Proteins; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D037161:Galectins; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011793:Queensland; D012372:ROC Curve; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C428445:LGALS3 protein, human
keywords: CARDIOVASCULAR; DIAGNOSIS; HEART