title: Prognostic Utility of Galectin-3 for Recurrent Cardiovascular Events During Long-term Follow-up in Patients with Stable Coronary Heart Disease: Results of the KAROLA Study.
abstract: Galectin-3 has emerged as a potential useful novel biomarker for heart failure and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it remains unclear whether galectin-3 is associated with recurrent cardiovascular events during long-term follow-up of patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) after adjustment for multiple established and novel risk factors.
  
  
  
  We measured galectin-3 at baseline in a cohort consisting of 1035 CHD patients and followed them for 13 years to assess a combined CVD end point. Moreover, we adjusted for multiple traditional and novel risk factors.
  
  
  
  Galectin-3 concentration was positively associated with the number of affected coronary arteries, history of heart failure, and multiple traditional risk factors. Also, galectin-3 correlated significantly with emerging risk factors [e.g., cystatin C, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitivity (hs)-troponin]. During follow-up (median 12.0 years), 260 fatal and nonfatal CVD events occurred. The top quartile of galectin-3 concentration was significantly associated with CVD events compared to the bottom quartile after adjustment for age and sex [hazard ratio (HR) 1.88 (95% CI, 1.30-2.73), P = 0.001 for trend] as well as for established CVD risk factors (HR 1.67, 95% CI, 1.14-2.46, P = 0.011 for trend). However, after adjustment for other biomarkers available [including eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate), sST2 protein, GDF-15 (growth differentiation factor 15), NT-proBNP, and hs-troponin], the association was no longer statistically significant [HR 1.11 (95% CI 0.72-1.70), P = 0.82 for trend].
  
  
  
  Galectin-3 does not independently predict recurrent cardiovascular events in patients with established CHD after adjustment for markers of hemodynamic stress, myocardial injury, inflammation, and renal dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany;
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; Koenig@dhm.mhn.de.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany;
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaensch
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research C070, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany;
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mons
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research C070, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Pneumology and Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, Thoraxklinik, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany;
authors.forename: Lutz P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Breitling
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scharnagl
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stojakovic
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Herzzentrum München, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany; DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany;
authors.forename: Heribert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schunkert
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research C070, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany;
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany; Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research C070, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany;
authors.forename: Dietrich
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rothenbacher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001798:Blood Proteins; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000097:blood*; D037161:Galectins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C428445:LGALS3 protein, human