The Association of Serum Galectin-3 Levels with Atrial Electrical and Structural Remodeling

• Published in: Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology 2015-06, Vol.26 (6), p.635-640
• Main Authors: YALCIN, MUHAMMED U., GURSES, KADRI M., KOCYIGIT, DUYGU, CANPINAR, HANDE, CANPOLAT, UGUR, EVRANOS, BANU, YORGUN, HIKMET, SAHINER, MEHMET L., KAYA, ERGUN B., HAZIROLAN, TUNCAY, TOKGOZOGLU, LALE, OTO, MEHMET A., OZER, NECLA, GUC, DICLE, AYTEMIR, KUDRET
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; atrial electromechanical delay; atrial fibrillation; Atrial Fibrillation - blood; Atrial Fibrillation - therapy; atrial fibrosis; Atrial Remodeling - physiology; Balloon Occlusion; Cardiology; Cryotherapy; delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Fibrosis; Galectin 3 - blood; galectin-3; Heart Atria - pathology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Medical research; Middle Aged; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; remodeling; Ventricular Function, Left - physiology
• ISSN: 1045-3873; 1540-8167
• DOI: 10.1111/jce.12637

Galectin‐3 and Left Atrial Remodeling in AF Introduction Left atrial (LA) interstitial fibrosis is known to have a role in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). The role of galectin‐3 in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis has been demonstrated in previous studies. We aimed to determine whether serum galectin‐3 level is associated with markers of atrial remodeling, including the extent of LA fibrosis detected by delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE‐MRI) and atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) in paroxysmal AF patients with preserved left ventricular (LV) functions. Methods and Results Thirty‐three patients (58 [28–74] years, 51.5% male) with paroxysmal AF who underwent DE‐MRI prior to cryoballoon‐based AF ablation were included in the study. Serum galectin‐3 levels were measured with ELISA. LA volume index (B ± SE: 0.424 ± 0.504, 95% CI: 0.560–2.627, P = 0.004) and serum galectin‐3 levels (B ± SE: 0.549 ± 7.745, 95% CI: 16.874–47.550, P < 0.001) were found to be independently correlated with extent of LA fibrosis detected with DE‐MRI in paroxysmal AF patients with preserved LV function. Correlation analysis between AEMD parameters and baseline characteristics showed that galectin‐3 was significantly correlated with intra‐left (ρ = 0.432, P = 0.012) and inter‐AEMD (ρ = 0.395, P = 0.023). Duration of AF, LAD, and extent of LA fibrosis were also found to be significantly correlated with AEMD parameters. Conclusion This is a hypothesis‐generating study pointing out that serum galectin‐3 level is significantly associated with atrial remodeling in paroxysmal AF patients with preserved LV function. Further studies are necessary to provide exact pathophysiological mechanisms.