Determinants of temporal changes in galectin-3 level in the general population: Data of PREVEND

Background: High baseline galectin-3 levels are associated with increased risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes in the general population, but determinants of changes in galectin-3 levels over time have not been established. Therefore, we aimed to identify determinants of (temporal) change in galectin-3 levels.

Methods: Galectin-3 plasma levels were measured in a large community based cohort (PREVEND study) at 3 different time points: at baseline, after similar to 4 and similar to 9 years. The association of baseline clinical and biochemical factors and (temporal) changes in galectin-3 level was assessed using multivariable mixed-effects regression modeling.

Results: In 4355 subjects, galectin-3 plasma levels were available at all time points (mean age: 48 +/- 12 years; 50% female). Median galectin-3 level at baseline was 10.7 [8.9-12.7] ng/mL which gradually increased to 11.5 [9.4-14.3] ng/mL after similar to 9 years. Using mixed-effects regression modeling, we first validated as independent determinants of baseline circulating galectin-3: eGFR (chi square (chi(2)): 210.27, p <0.0001), gender (chi(2): 43.85; p <0.0001), BMI (chi(2): 19.68, p = 0.0001), NT-proBNP (chi(2): 18.76, p = 0.0001) and serum(total) cholesterol (chi(2): 8.63, p = 0.01). Furthermore, we identified urinary albumin excretion (chi(2): 34.03, p-value:

Conclusions: In the general population, urinary albumin excretion >30 mg/24 h and systolic blood pressure >170 mmHg were identified as significant determinants of dynamic increases in galectin-3 levels over time. These results implicate that treatment of high blood pressure might be effective to prevent increasing galectin-3 levels and its associated conditions. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.