Review of the Prognostic Value of Galectin-3 in Heart Failure Focusing on Clinical Utility of Repeated Testing

Galectin-3 is a soluble β-galactoside-binding lectin released by activated cardiac macrophages. Elevated levels of galectin-3 have been found to be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure. A number of recent studies suggest that galectin-3 may provide relevant information reg...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular diagnosis & therapy 2014-12, Vol.18 (6), p.599-604
Main Authors: Carrasco-Sánchez, Francisco Javier, Páez-Rubio, María Inmaculada
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Cancer Research
Cardiovascular disease
Drug therapy
Heart attacks
Human Genetics
Laboratory Medicine
Molecular Medicine
Mortality
Pharmacotherapy
Review Article
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Galectin-3 is a soluble β-galactoside-binding lectin released by activated cardiac macrophages. Elevated levels of galectin-3 have been found to be associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure. A number of recent studies suggest that galectin-3 may provide relevant information regarding the pathophysiologic process of heart failure. We analyzed the most recent and comprehensive studies which are focused on the association between galectin-3 and heart failure. Galectin-3 has also been associated with acute and chronic heart failure. Although most of the studies involved patients with heart failure and systolic dysfunction, galectin-3 seems to have more accurate role in heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. However, the mechanism of this relationship and its clinical implications remain uncertain. Some studies have not been able to prove the association between galectin-3 and heart failure, so there are many questions to answer. Galectin-3 has also been involved to renal dysfunction, so it could be a mediator of worsening renal function. Serial measurement of galectin-3 could provide further prognostic information in heart failure patients.
ISSN:1177-1062
1179-2000
DOI:10.1007/s40291-014-0113-4