Identifying subgroups of asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who may benefit from early intervention is a critical challenge due to the risk of sudden death and irreversible myocardial dysfunction without preceding symptoms. In this study, we analyzed the determinants and prognostic value of Galectin-3 in a large cohort of patients with AS.

We included patients with at least mild degenerative AS enrolled in 2 ongoing prospective clinical studies, COFRASA and GENERAC, aiming at assessing the determinants of AS occurrence and progression.

Between November 2006 and July 2013, 583 patients were prospectively enrolled. Severe AS was diagnosed in 312 (56%) patients among whom 220 (38%) were symptomatic. Age (p<0.0001) and reduced creatinine clearance (p<0.0001) were positively associated with Galectin-3 level.

No significant association was found between Galectin-3 and echocardio-graphic parameters of AS severity including aortic valve area (p=0.41), mean transvalvular gradient (p=0,27), and AS jet velocity (p=0.52). Galectin-3 did not provide diagnostic evidence of severe AS (area under the curve=0.53). Galectin-3 was not influenced by symptomatic status. Echocardiographic parameters of LV remodeling were not associated with Galectin-3 in multivariate analysis. Event-free survival analysis revealed no prognostic value of Galectin-3.

The main determinants of Galectin-3 level were age and renal function. There was no association between Galectin-3 and symptomatic status and echocardiographic parameters associated with LV remodeling. Galectin-3 didn’t provide prognostic information on the occurrence of AS related events. These results do not support the use of Galectin-3 in the decision making process of patients with AS.