Laboratory biomarker galectin-3 in the diagnostics of myocardial inflammatory changes in patients with atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias. Numerous data indicate a significant contribution of myocardial inflammatory changes in the development and progression of AF. The search for new laboratory biomarkers to assess the activity of myocardial inflammatory processes, and the study of their diagnostic significance for noninvasive diagnosis in patients with AF is relevant. Therefore, the aim was to study the features of the serum level of the biomarker Gal-3 and to identify its relationship with inflammatory changes in the myocardium in patients with AF. Depending on the results of histological studies, the patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 – with morphologically verified active lymphocytic myocarditis (ALM), group 2 – with lymphocytic infiltration (LI). Analysis of the frequency of detection and severity of the inflammatory process in the myocardium showed that activity of 4-5 scores was detected only in group 1. In 2nd group, activity of the inflammatory process in most patients was 1 score. All patients with LI mild interstitial inflammation were showed. In the ALM group moderate and severe interstitial inflammation was detected. A high number of CD3+ and CD45+ cells were found in 1st group compared to group 2 (p < 0.001).There were no significant intergroup differences in the serum level of Gal-3. At the same time, in 1st group showed a significant decrease in Gal-3 in 6 months after treatment (p = 0.028). Positive correlations of Gal-3 with the severity of the inflammatory process and endocardial involvement were revealed in patients with ALM. The association of serum Gal-3 levels with CD68+ levels in 1st group was detected (R = 0.48, p = 0.030). In 2nd group, a correlation between the level of Gal-3 in 6 months after ablation with infiltration of CD45+ cells was found (R = 0.69, p = 0.003). Thus, in patients with AF and active lymphocytic myocarditis, significant associations were established between biomarkers of Gal-3 and inflammatory changes in the myocardium. This confirms the important role of Gal-3 as a participant in the inflammatory process.