AUTHOR=Lu Hsin-Ying , Shih Chun-Ming , Sung Shih-Hsien , Wu Alexander T. H. , Cheng Tsai-Mu , Lin Yen-Chung , Shih Chun-Che 

TITLE=Galectin-3 as a Biomarker for Stratifying Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Size in a Taiwanese Population

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2021.663152

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2021.663152

ISSN=2297-055X

ABSTRACT=<p>Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) ruptures are unpredictable and lethal. A biomarker predicting AAA rupture risk could help identify patients with small, screen-detected AAAs. Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a β-galactosidase–binding lectin, is involved in inflammatory processes and may be associated with AAA incidence. We investigated whether Gal-3 can be used as a biomarker of AAA size. Plasma Gal-3 protein concentrations were examined in patients with AAA (<italic>n</italic> = 151) and control patients (<italic>n</italic> = 195) using Human ProcartaPlex multiplex and simplex kits. Circulating Gal-3 levels were significantly higher in patients with AAA than in control patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for Gal-3 was 0.91. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between Gal-3 level and the presence of AAA. Circulating Gal-3 levels were significantly correlated with aortic diameter in a concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, higher plasma Gal-3 concentrations may be a useful biomarker of AAA progression.</p>