Differences in galectin-3, a biomarker of fibrosis, between participants with peripheral artery disease and participants with normal ankle–brachial index

• Published in: Vascular medicine (London, England) Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 437 - 444
• Main Authors: Casanegra, Ana I, Stoner, Julie A, Tafur, Alfonso J, Pereira, H Anne, Rathbun, Suman W, Gardner, Andrew W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-10-2016; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ankle Brachial Index; Biomarkers - blood; C-Reactive Protein - analysis; Case-Control Studies; Female; Fibrosis; Galectin 3 - blood; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Linear Models; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Peripheral Arterial Disease - blood; Peripheral Arterial Disease - diagnosis; Peripheral Arterial Disease - physiopathology; Predictive Value of Tests; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Up-Regulation; Vascular Stiffness; atherosclerosis; peripheral artery disease; biomarker; galectin-3; hs-CRP
• ISSN: 1358-863X; 1477-0377
• DOI: 10.1177/1358863X16644059

The aim of this study was to determine if galectin-3 levels were different between participants with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and controls, and to describe its relationship with markers of early atherosclerosis. Sixty participants were recruited into two groups: a PAD group (n=31), ankle–brachial index (ABI) ⩽0.90 and a normal ABI group (n=29), ABI 1.0–1.4. PAD participants were older (68.6 vs 61.8 years, p=0.037), more commonly men (68% vs 38%, p=0.02), and with more cardiovascular risk factors (p<0.001). Galectin-3 was 22% higher in PAD participants (mean±SD: 17.6±4.7 vs 14.4±4.1 ng/mL, p<0.01). The odds ratio for galectin-3 in PAD to be 1 ng/mL higher than the participants with normal ABI was 1.19, after adjusting by age and gender (p=0.014). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) were positively associated with galectin-3 in the age- and gender-adjusted model, while arterial elasticity and microalbuminuria were not. In conclusion, galectin-3 levels were higher in participants with PAD.