Association Between High Gal-3 Serum Levels and Worsening of Renal Function in Chronic Heart Failure Outpatients

Abstract

<b>Aim:</b> The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between Gal-3 serum levels and the progression of renal dysfunction in chronic heart failure outpatients. <b>Methods & results:</b> This prospective study of 260 chronic heart failure patients showed that Gal-3 was associated with 1-year worsening of renal function both in univariate (odds ratio: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.06-1.18; p < 0.001) and in forward stepwise multivariate (odds ratio: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.03-1.15; p = 0.004) logistic regression analyses. Moreover, high Gal-3 levels at baseline were associated with a progressive decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate. <b>Conclusion:</b> Gal-3 is a biomarker associated with the progression of renal function decline thus further supporting its possible usefulness in predicting cardiorenal syndrome progression.