Galectin-3 as a potential biomarker of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular remodeling in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes

Aim: To determine the impact of galectin-3 levels on the progression of metabolic disorders and structural-functional changes in the myocardium and blood vessels in patients with concomitant systemic arterial hypertension (AH) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM). Methods: Ninety-five patients with hypertension stage II grade 2 (53 males and 42 females) were examined. The patients were separated: group 1 (n = 32) patients with AH, without carbohydrate metabolism disorders; group 2 (n = 30) patients with AH and pre-diabetes; group 3 (n = 33) concomitant AH and type 2 DM. Carbohydrate metabolism, insulin resistance parameters and galectin-3 levels were measured. Echocardiography was performed to determine the structural-functional condition of the heart. Estimation of the intima-media complex thickness of the common carotid artery was performed by duplex ultrasound scanning. Results: Hypertrophy of the left ventricular myocardium is most evident in patients with AH and type 2 DM compared with groups 1 and 2, and the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of galectin-3 in the group with concomitant hypertension and type 2 DM were higher than in groups 1 and 2, and the control group (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was revealed between the level of galectin-3, indices of insulin resistance, and structural-functional cardiac and vessel remodeling. Conclusion: Galectin-3 levels in serum are significantly linked with indices of insulin resistance and cardiovascular remodeling.