Galectin-3: an overview, pathophysiology, analytics, limits of interpretation and biological variation

Abstract

Galectin-3, a member of the family of soluble non-glycosylated lectins, is a newer biomarker with a prognostic role in heart, lung, kidney, liver, and other organ diseases. Galectin-3 has proinflammatory and profibrotic effects and is involved in the pathophysiology of the development of heart failure.

An automated analytical method with robust analytical characteristics is available, and reference intervals and decision limits are known. There is a consensus in the cardiology literature for an increased risk of worse prognosis due to fibrosis and inflammation at galectin-3 concentrations above 18 µg/L.

Biological variation is known both in healthy subjects and patients with heart diseases and galectin-3 concentrations are stable over time. Most data on galectin-3 available in the literature relate to cardiac disease diagnostics - it belongs among the biomarkers with possible use mainly in heart failure, myocardial infarction, and heart transplantation.

Due to the planned reimbursement by health insurance companies and its diagnostic and prognostic potential, galectin-3 seems to be a biomarker suitable for use in routine clinical practice.