Galectin-3 may modify CV mortality risk via aldosterone
Galectin-3 interacted with risk for fatal CV events associated with aldosterone in patients referred for coronary angiography, according to a study published in The American Journal of Cardiology.
“Myocardial fibrosis and remodeling amplified by the presence of high Gal-3 concentrations could be a potential mechanism that explains part of the deleterious actions of aldosterone,” Martin Robert Grübler, MD, researcher in the division of endocrinology and metabolism at Medical University of Graz in Austria, and colleagues wrote.
Researchers analyzed data from 2,457 patients (median age, 64 years; 30% women) from the LURIC study who were referred to invasive coronary angiography. Blood samples were taken periodically throughout the study to assess plasma aldosterone and galectin-3 concentrations.
CV death occurred in 16.8% of patients during a median follow-up of 9.9 years. The mean plasma aldosterone concentration was 79 pg/mL.
When patients were stratified by median galectin-3, there was a significant link between aldosterone and CV mortality in those above the cutoff value of 14.5 ng/mL (HR per 1 standard deviation = 1.14; 95% CI, 1.01-1.3). This was not observed in patients below this cutoff value (HR per 1 standard deviation = 1; 95% CI, 0.87-1.15).
“The findings of the present study have several potential clinical implications,” Grübler and colleagues wrote. “First, it improves our understanding of the interplay between profibrotic signaling and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Second, it might improve risk stratification in patients referred to coronary angiography, especially those with plasma aldosterone concentration measurements already available (eg, as a screening for primary aldosteronism). Furthermore, in the near future, we might hopefully able to identify Gal-3 or another marker that helps us trigger an earlier or later initiation of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist or aldosterone synthase inhibitor treatment, given their risk/benefit profile.” – by Darlene Dobkowski
Disclosures: The assays used for galectin-3 were provided by Abbott. Grübler reports he received travel support from Amgen and Synlab Holding GmbH. Please see the study for all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.
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