Abstract
Introduction: Elevated galectin-3 (GAL-3) levels has been associated with decompensated heart failure (HF) which is a complex mechanical and neurohormonal syndrome. Many clinical and biochemical factors have been implicated in the pathophysiology of HF. In a group of patients who are referred to the emergency clinic for HF, GAL-3 levels and their association with various clinical and biochemical parameters were determined. GAL-3levels were measured with the VIDAS® automated enzyme-linked fluorescent assay (BioMérieux, France).
Method: Our study group consists of 70 patients (33 women and 37 men) and 25 healthy controls. All 70 patients had at least Class II or higher levels of HF according to NYHA criteria.
Results: GAL-3 was significantly higher in the patient's group (17.98 vs. 10.24 ng/mL; p<000,1). 53 patients had atherosclerotic heart disease, 14 patients had intracardiac cardioverter-defibrillator implantation (ICD), 37 atrial fibrillation and 25 patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus. Low levels of chloremia, low red cell width ( RDW), as a low blood count parameter low mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and higher age were associated with elevated levels of GAL-3.
Statistical analysis has shown that galectin-3 was significantly associated with hypochloremia (p=0.002), MCHC (p=0.002), RDW (p=0.009). Age, hyponatremia, and anemia are clinically slightly relevant indices of decompensated HF associated with high levels of GAL-3.
Conclusion: The measurement of GAL-3 may represent a new alternative biomarker in decision making for HF. Clinical parameters associated with GAL-3 may illuminate new pathophysiologic mechanisms in HF.

Key words: Galectin-3, Heart Failure, RDW, Hyponatremia, Anemia, MCHC