The circulating Galectin 3 (Gal-3) emerged as a new biomarker involved in fibrosis and left ventricular remodeling. The aim of our study was to investigate correlations of Gal-3 levels with cardiac function and remodeling parameters evaluated by echocardiography, and with clinical, biological and angiographic parameters in patients hospitalized for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

We conducted a prospective longitudinal study, including consecutive patients hospitalized for STEMI at the Cardiology Department of the Charles Nicolle Hospital in Tunis. A Gal-3 assay and an echocardiography were performed at four times: admission (T0), one month (T1), three months (T2), and six months (T3).

Our study collected 45 patients aged 58+12 years. The sex ratio was 10, 2.

We found a significant correlation between Gal-3 assayed at T0 with age (r=0.311; P=0.037), ALAT (r=0.4; P=0.009) and CPK (r=0.384; P=0.019); and between Gal-3 assayed at T3 and the infarction localization (P=0.007).

At one month, Gal-3 correlated with the left ventricular ejection fraction (r=0.308; P=0.042), left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVi) (r=0.324; P=0.032), and left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVi) (r=0.378; P=0.012). In addition, it had a predictive value on evolution. In fact, Gal-3 assayed at T1 was found to be significantly correlated with LVEDVi measured at T2 (r=0.312; P=0.039) and with left ventricular end-diastolic diameter index (LVEDDi) measured at T2 (r=0.372; P=0.014) and at T3 (r=0. 372; P=0.032).

Gal-3 correlates with remodeling parameters and cardiac function, and predicts structural changes when measured at one month of the acute episode of STEMI. Gal-3 can contribute to tissue repair, but excessive activation of its repair mechanisms may became harmful at a distance from the acute phase, it could then be a prognostic marker and a therapeutic target.