Galectin-3 as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of essential hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy

Abstract

Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a carbohydrate-binding protein that has important regulatory roles in inflammation, immunity and cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of Gal-3 level with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) related to hypertension (HT). Thirty seven patients (Group I) with newly diagnosed hypertension (HT) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were included in the study. Thirty eight patients with newly diagnosed hypertension without LVH (Group II) and 38 normotensive healthy volunteers (Group III) were included in the study as control group. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed and Gal-3 was measured in all patients. Although demographic characteristics of the groups were similar, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels of Group I and Group II were significantly higher than Group III (p<0.001). Interventricular septum (IVS) thickness, posterior wall (PW) thickness and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were also significantly increased in Group I compared to Group II and Group III. Serum Gal-3 levels in all three groups were seen to be different from each other (p<0.001). Increase of Gal-3 levels has a significant correlation with LVMI, IVS and PW thickness (p<0.001). We determined that Gal-3 levels, even at the newly diagnosed stage of HT, were increased. Moreover, we found strong correlation between Gal-3 levels and left ventricular muscle mass. These results may indicate that increased Gal-3 level is an important marker for target organ damage and high cardiovascular risk in patients with HT. © 2016 OMU.