Association between galectin-3 and the prognosis of patients with stroke: A meta-analysis of observational studies

Aim: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prognostic value of galectin-3 among patients with stroke.

Data synthesis: Electronic databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, and Clinical Trials, were utilized for conducting searches from database inception to November 2022. Two reviewers independently screened the papers, extracted the data, and used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to determine the risk of bias. Stata 17 was employed to conduct the meta-analysis, while the funnel plot was utilized to identify potential publication bias. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were employed to examine the sources of heterogeneity. Nine studies that satisfied the inclusion criteria were included. Galectin-3 levels were higher post-stroke in patients with poor outcomes and mortality compared to those in patients with good outcomes (standardized mean difference [SMD], 2.83; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.25-4.40; P<0.001) and stroke survivors (SMD, 1.18; 95 % CI, 0.96-1,39; P< 0.001), and elevated galectin-3 levels were associated with poor stroke outcomes (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; 95 % CI, 1.06-1.33; P<0.001). Further, higher post-stroke galectin-3 levels were associated with a higher risk of mortality (OR, 1.16; 95 % CI, 1.08-1.25; P<0.001), and this relationship was maintained after trim-and-fill analyses (OR, 1.14; 95 % CI, 1.06-1.22).

Conclusions: Galectin-3 levels post-stroke are increased in patients with a poor prognosis, and this elevation is associated with poor stroke outcomes and mortality. It is recommended that further high-caliber investigations with expanded sample sizes corroborate the outcomes of this study.