Evaluation of Soluble ST2 and Galectin-3 Levels in Patients with Heart Failure-Uncorrected Proof

Objective: Soluble stromelysin-2 (sST2) and galectin-3 have been found to be associated with prognosis in patients with heart failure (HF). However, there is no study evaluating the clinical importance of sST2 and galectin-3 in HF classification according to ejection fraction (EF). In the present study, we aimed to assess the diagnostic value of sST2 and galectin-3 in HF classification based on EF.

Method: Forty-one heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 41 with mildly-reduced EF (HFmrEF), 41 with preserved EF (HFpEF), and 41 healthy controls were included in the study. EF ≤ 40% was defined as HFrEF, 41-49% as HFmrEF, and ≥ 50% as HFpEF. Levels of sST2 and galectin-3 were measured, and comparisons were performed.

Results: There were significant differences among the groups in terms of sST2 (P < 0.001) and galectin-3 (P = 0.007) levels. Post hoc analysis demonstrated that patients with HFmrEF and HFrEF had significantly higher sST2 (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively) and galectin-3 (P = 0.043 and P = 0.007, respectively) levels compared to the control group, whereas the HFpEF and control groups were similar in terms of sST2 and galectin-3 levels (P = 0.645 and P = 0.436, respectively). In correlation analysis, sST2 and galectin-3 levels were positively correlated with B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) (r = 0.240, P = 0.002 and r = 0.172, P = 0.028, respectively) and negatively correlated with EF (r = -0.403, P < 0.001 and r = -0.295, P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: sST2 and galectin-3 levels were higher in patients with HFrEF and HFmrEF compared to the control group, and these markers increased as EF decreased. However, these markers did not differ between patients with HFpEF and the control group.

Keywords: Heart failure, stromelysin 2, galectin-3