Correlations between Gatectin 3 and clinical echocardiographic parameters during ST elevation myocardial infarction

Introduction The circulating Galectin 3 (Gal-3) emerged as a new biomarker involved in fibrosis and left ventricular remodeling. The aim of our study was to investigate correlations of Gal-3 levels with cardiac function and remodeling parameters evaluated by echocardiography, and with clinical, biological and angiographic parameters in patients hospitalized for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods We conducted a prospective longitudinal study, including consecutive patients hospitalized for STEMI at the Cardiology Department of the Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis. A Gal-3 assay and an echocardiography were performed at four times: admission (T0), one month (T1), three months (T2), and six months (T3). Results Our study collected 45 patients aged 58 + 12 years. The sex ratio was 10, 2. We found a significant correlation between Gal-3 assayed at T0 with age (r = 0.311; P = 0.037), ALAT (r = 0.4; P = 0.009) and CPK (r = 0.384; P = 0.019); and between Gal-3 assayed at T3 and the infarction localization (P = 0.007). At one month, Gal-3 correlated with the left ventricular ejection fraction (r = 0.308; P = 0.042), left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVi) (r = 0.324; P = 0.032), and left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVi) (r = 0.378; P = 0.012). In addition, it had a predictive value on evolution. In fact, Gal-3 assayed at T1 was found to be significantly correlated with LVEDVi measured at T2 (r = 0.312; P = 0.039) and with left ventricular end-diastolic diameter index (LVEDDi) measured at T2 (r = 0.372; P = 0.014) and at T3 (r = 0. 372; P = 0.032). Conclusion Gal-3 correlates with remodeling parameters and cardiac function, and predicts structural changes when measured at one month of the acute episode of STEMI. Gal-3 can contribute to tissue repair, but excessive activation of its repair mechanisms may became harmful at a distance from the acute phase, it could then be a prognostic marker and a therapeutic target.