Circulating plasma galectin-3 predicts new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients after acute myocardial infarction during hospitalization
Qianhui Wang, Wei Huai, Xiaoguang Ye, Yuxia Pan, Xinchun Yang, Mulei Chen, Qingbian Ma, Yuanfeng Gao, Yuan Zhang
Abstract
BACKGROUND: New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is a common complication in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during hospitalization. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a novel inflammation marker that is significantly associated with AF. The association between post-AMI NOAF and Gal-3 during hospitalization is yet unclear. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the predictive value of plasma Gal-3 for post-AMI NOAF. METHODS: A total of 217 consecutive patients admitted with AMI were included in this retrospective study. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained within 24 h after admission and plasma Gal-3 concentrations were measured. RESULTS: Post-AMI NOAF occurred in 18 patients in this study. Patients with NOAF were older (p < 0.001) than those without. A higher level of the peak brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) (p < 0.001) and Gal-3 (p < 0.001) and a lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (LDL-C) (p = 0.030), and an estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) (p = 0.030) were recorded in patients with post-AMI NOAF. Echocardiographic information revealed that patients with NOAF had a significantly decreased left ventricular eject fraction (LVEF) (p < 0.001) and an increased left atrial diameter (LAD) (p = 0.004) than those without NOAF. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed a significantly higher value of plasma Gal-3 in the diagnosis of NOAF for patients with AMI during hospitalization (area under the curve (p < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 72.22% and a specificity of 72.22%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression model analysis indicated that age (p = 0.045), plasma Gal-3 (p = 0.018), and LAD (p = 0.014) were independent predictors of post-MI NOAF. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma Gal-3 concentration is an independent predictor of post-MI NOAF.