Cited 23 times since 2013 (2.1 per year) source: Scopus European journal of heart failure, Volume 15, Issue 9, 10 2 2013, Pages 1011-1018 Galectin-3 and left ventricular reverse remodelling after surgical mitral valve repair. Kortekaas KA, Hoogslag GE, de Boer RA, Dokter MM, Versteegh MI, Braun J, Marsan NA, Verwey HF, Delgado V, Schalij MJ, Klautz RJ
Aims
Mitral valve repair in patients with functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) has been associated with beneficial left ventricular (LV) reverse remodelling. Recently, galectin-3 emerged as a marker of myocardial inflammation and fibrosis which may influence LV remodelling after surgery. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between pre-operative galectin-3 levels and LV reverse remodelling in heart failure patients with significant FMR who underwent mitral valve repair.
Methods and results
In total, 42 heart failure patients (66 ± 10 years, 69% male) were evaluated. Plasma galectin-3 levels were assessed pre-operatively. Two-dimensional echocardiographic parameters were measured at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months after surgery. LV reverse remodelling was defined as a decrease in LV end-systolic volume ≥15% at 6 months follow-up. In total, 57% of the patients showed LV reverse remodelling. Patients with LV reverse remodelling showed significantly lower pre-operative galectin-3 levels (17.5 ± 5.6 vs. 23.7 ± 9.9 ng/mL, P = 0.009) compared with patients without LV reverse remodelling. In addition, patients with galectin-3 ≤18.2 ng/mL had a six-fold higher probability of showing LV reverse remodelling after surgery as compared with patients with levels >18.2 ng/mL (odds ratio 6.58, 95% confidence interval 1.32-33.33, P = 0.02).
Conclusion
High pre-operative plasma galectin-3 is independently associated with the absence of LV reverse remodelling after mitral valve repair. Galectin-3 may be useful to identify heart failure patients who will need additional treatment to obtain beneficial LV reverse remodelling.
