Interpretation

Clinically, galectin-3 concentrations may be categorized into 3 risk categories, substantiated by results from several large chronic heart failure studies:

≤17.8 ng/mL (low risk)

17.9-25.9 ng/mL (intermediate risk)

>25.9 ng/mL (higher risk)

Results should be interpreted in the context of the individual patient presentation. Elevated galectin-3 results indicate an increased risk for adverse outcomes and signal the presence of galectin-3-mediated fibrosis and adverse remodeling. Once galectin-3 concentrations are elevated they are relatively stable over time in the absence of intervention.

Knowledge of a patient with heart failure's galectin-3 results may assist in risk stratification and lead to more aggressive management. There are no specific galectin-3 inhibitors available at this time, and patients with heart failure and elevated galectin-3 concentrations should be treated and monitored according to established guidelines. Angiotensin receptor blockers and aldosterone antagonists are thought to be particularly effective.

A large multicenter, prospective, observational study was conducted to derive the reference intervals for galectin-3 that included 1092 subjects between the ages of 55 and 80 years without any known cardiac disease (520 males, 572 females). The 97.5th percentile of galectin-3 in that cohort was 22.1 ng/mL. Individuals with concentrations greater than 22.1 ng/mL had a significant association with mortality and New York Heart Association classification. However, this was an older population and definitive evidence of cardiac disease was not documented.