Association of serum galectin-3 with risks of death and vascular events in acute ischaemic stroke patients: the role of hyperglycemia

Eur J Neurol. 2019 Mar;26(3):415-421. doi: 10.1111/ene.13856. Epub 2018 Dec 8.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Whether the association between galectin-3 and stroke outcome is modified by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is unknown. The aim was to evaluate the prognostic effect of galectin-3 amongst ischaemic stroke patients stratified by FPG.

Methods: In all, 3082 ischaemic stroke patients were included in this study and serum galectin-3 was tested at baseline. The primary outcome was a composite outcome of death and vascular events, and secondary outcomes were death, stroke recurrence and vascular events within 1 year after stroke.

Results: Increased galectin-3 was significantly associated with the primary outcome, stroke recurrence and vascular events in the patients with hyperglycemia but not in those with normoglycemia (P for interaction < 0.05 for all). The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 1.72 (1.05-2.84), 2.64 (1.14-6.12) and 2.68 (1.33-5.38) for the primary outcome, stroke recurrence and vascular events, respectively. A linear association between galectin-3 and the primary outcome was observed in hyperglycemic patients (P for linearity = 0.007).

Conclusion: Increased galectin-3 was associated with the primary outcome, stroke recurrence and vascular events within 1 year after stroke in the patients with hyperglycemia, suggesting that galectin-3 may be an important prognostic factor for ischaemic stroke patients with hyperglycemia.

Keywords: galectin-3; hyperglycemia; ischaemic stroke; prognosis.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Proteins
  • Brain Ischemia / blood*
  • Brain Ischemia / diagnosis*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / blood*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Galectin 3 / blood*
  • Galectins
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Recurrence
  • Stroke / blood*
  • Stroke / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Galectin 3
  • Galectins
  • LGALS3 protein, human