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Abstract Number: 2818

Galectin-3 As a Marker of Subclinical Atherosclerosis, Arterial Stiffness and Myocardial Performance in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Panagiota Anyfanti1, Eugenia Gkaliagkousi1, Areti Triantafyllou1, Eleni Gavriilaki1, Panagiotis Dolgyras1, Sophia Chatzimichailidou2, Vasiliki Galanopoulou3, Stella Douma1 and Spyros Aslanidis2, 13rd Department of Internal Medicine, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2Rheumatology Department-2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, Thessaloniki, Greece, 3Rheumatology Department, Papageorgiou Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece, Thessaloniki, Greece

Meeting: 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Keywords: Arteriosclerosis, Atherosclerosis, Cardiovascular disease, Galectin and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

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Session Information

Date: Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Session Title: 5T088 ACR Abstract: RA–DX, Manifestations, & Outcomes IV: CV Co-Morbidities (2814–2819)

Session Type: ACR Concurrent Abstract Session

Session Time: 2:30PM-4:00PM

Background/Purpose:

Galectin-3 has emerged as a promising novel biomarker of cardiovascular fibrosis, that can improve cardiovascular risk stratification in high-risk populations. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by excess cardiovascular risk. We investigated for the first time whether galectin-3 correlates with robust markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, arterial stiffness and myocardial function in patients with RA.

Methods:

Serum levels of galectin-3 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in RA and non-RA individuals. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was estimated as the gold-standard measure of arterial stiffness with applanation tonometry. Subclinical atherosclerosis was evaluated by measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) from carotid ultrasound. Indices of myocardial blood flow (cardiac output, stroke volume), contractibility (acceleration index, velocity index) and afterload (systemic vascular resistance) were non-invasively assessed with impedance cardiography, which offers continuous, beat-by-beat measurements of central hemodynamics. Cardiovascular risk was estimated from the Framingham Heart Study.

Results:

A total of 124 participants with a mean age of 59.6±11.6 years were studied, of whom 85 were RA patients and 39 controls. Mean DAS score was 3.6±1.2, median disease duration was 10 (5–18) years, and median erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 20 (10–30) mm/hr. Serum galectin-3 was significantly higher in RA patients, compared to the control group [17.7 (9.8 – 33.5) vs 9.1 (6.0 – 12.0) ng/dl, p<0.001]. However, galectin-3 did not significantly differ when the subgroup of patients without cardiovascular comorbidities (n=38) were separately compared to controls [10.7 (6.4–20.3) vs 9.1 (6.0–12.0) ng/dl, p=ns].

In the univariate analysis, galectin-3 significantly correlated with both PWV (r=0.341, p=0.002) and cIMT (r=0.312, p=0.004) among RA patients. An inverse association was found between galectin-3 and stroke volume (r=–0.279, p=0.010), which was even stronger with cardiac output (r=–0.409, p<0.001). Galectin-3 strongly correlated with systemic vascular resistance (r=0.364, p=0.001) and both acceleration index (r=–0.317, p=0.003) and velocity index (r=–0.395, p<0.001). A positive association was observed between galectin-3 and the estimated 10-year cardiovascular risk from the Framingham Heart Study (r=0.379, p=0.001). On the contrary, no associations were found between galectin-3 and disease-related parameters, including inflammation and disease activity. Multivariate analysis revealed an independent association between galectin-3 and cardiac output (beta=–0.274, p=0.039).

Conclusion:

In a relatively well-controlled cohort of RA patients presenting with low-grade systemic inflammation and long-standing disease, serum galectin-3 strongly correlated with markers of cardiac performance and the estimated 10-year cardiovascular risk. By contrast, galectin-3 was not related to inflammation and disease activity in these patients.


Disclosure: P. Anyfanti, None; E. Gkaliagkousi, None; A. Triantafyllou, None; E. Gavriilaki, None; P. Dolgyras, None; S. Chatzimichailidou, None; V. Galanopoulou, None; S. Douma, None; S. Aslanidis, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Anyfanti P, Gkaliagkousi E, Triantafyllou A, Gavriilaki E, Dolgyras P, Chatzimichailidou S, Galanopoulou V, Douma S, Aslanidis S. Galectin-3 As a Marker of Subclinical Atherosclerosis, Arterial Stiffness and Myocardial Performance in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2018; 70 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/galectin-3-as-a-marker-of-subclinical-atherosclerosis-arterial-stiffness-and-myocardial-performance-in-patients-with-rheumatoid-arthritis/. Accessed February 2, 2023.
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