title: Determinants of temporal changes in galectin-3 level in the general population: Data of PREVEND.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High baseline galectin-3 levels are associated with increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes in the general population, but determinants of changes in galectin-3 levels over time have not been established. Therefore, we aimed to identify determinants of (temporal) change in galectin-3 levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Galectin-3 plasma levels were measured in a large community based cohort (PREVEND study) at 3 different time points: at baseline, after ~4 and ~9years. The association of baseline clinical and biochemical factors and (temporal) changes in galectin-3 level was assessed using multivariable mixed-effects regression modeling.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 4355 subjects, galectin-3 plasma levels were available at all time points (mean age: 48±12years; 50% female). Median galectin-3 level at baseline was 10.7 [8.9-12.7] ng/mL which gradually increased to 11.5 [9.4-14.3] ng/mL after ~9years. Using mixed-effects regression modeling, we first validated as independent determinants of baseline circulating galectin-3: eGFR (chi square (χ(2)):210.27, p<0.0001), gender (χ(2):43.85; p<0.0001), BMI (χ(2):19.68, p=0.0001), NT-proBNP (χ(2):18.76, p=0.0001) and serum (total) cholesterol (χ(2):8.63, p=0.01). Furthermore, we identified urinary albumin excretion (χ(2):34.03, p-value: <0.0001) and systolic blood pressure (χ(2):16.81, p=0.002) as independent determinants of temporal changes of galectin-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the general population, urinary albumin excretion >30mg/24h and systolic blood pressure >170mmHg were identified as significant determinants of dynamic increases in galectin-3 levels over time. These results implicate that treatment of high blood pressure might be effective to prevent increasing galectin-3 levels and its associated conditions.
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Cardiology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: A Rogier
authors: AR
authors: van der Velde
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Cardiology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Wouter C
authors: WC
authors: Meijers
authors: Eindhoven University of Technology, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors: Edwin R
authors: ER
authors: van den Heuvel
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Nephrology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Stephan J
authors: SJ
authors: Bakker
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Cardiology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Wiek H
authors: WH
authors: van Gilst
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Cardiology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Pim
authors: P
authors: van der Harst
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Cardiology, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Hillege
authors: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Cardiology, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.a.de.boer@umcg.nl.
authors: Rudolf A
authors: RA
authors: de Boer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D037502:Galectin 3
keywords: Biomarker; Blood pressure; Galectin-3; Serial measurements