Galectin-3 as a prognostic biomarker for diabetic nephropathy

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 is a major health condition that has shown an increased incidence globally. The most common complication in type 2 DM is diabetic nephropathy (DN). Aim To determine serum galectin-3 as a prognostic biomarker in type 2 DN. Patients and methods A case–control prospective study was done in the Internal Medicine Department of AL-Zahraa University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. The study was conducted on 90 patients, including 60 patients with type 2 DM and 30 age-matched and sex-matched healthy volunteers as a control group. The 90 patients were classified into four groups: group I included 20 diabetic patients (type 2) with an albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) of less than 30 mg/g (normoalbuminuria), group II included 20 DM (type 2) with an ACR of 30–300 mg/g (microalbuminuria), group III included 20 DM (type 2) with an ACR of more than 300 mg/g (macroalbuminuria), and control group included 30 age-matched and sex-matched healthy individuals. History, examination, fasting blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin, urea, creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, ACR, lipid profile, and serum galectin-3 were done for all participants. The study was approved by the Al Azhar University Ethics Board. Results Galectin-3 was significantly higher in patients with macroalbuminuria than in those with microalbuminuria and normoalbuminuria. Galectin-3 level has a significant positive correlation with parameters of DN progression (age, DM duration, fasting blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, urea, creatinine, and ACR) and a significant negative correlation with estimated glomerular filtration rate and high-density lipoprotein levels. Conclusion Galectin-3 was significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients with macroalbuminuria than in those with microalbuminuria and normoalbuminuria.