Evaluating serum galectin-3 binding protein as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a comparative study

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe condition with poor prognosis, characterized by elevated pulmonary artery pressure that leads to right ventricular failure. Identifying reliable biomarkers, such as Galectin-3 Binding Protein (Gal-3BP), could enhance PAH diagnosis and prognosis due to Gal-3BP's involvement in inflammation and fibrosis.Methods: This prospective cohort study included 260 participants, 130 diagnosed with PAH and 130 healthy controls, from a tertiary care center. Serum Gal-3BP, NT-proBNP, and other biomarkers were measured alongside regular cardiopulmonary assessments. Right heart catheterization assessed hemodynamic parameters, and survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves over a 2-year period.Results: PAH patients exhibited significantly higher serum Gal-3BP levels (5.34 ± 2.45 μg/mL) than controls (2.15 ± 0.95 μg/mL, p<0.001), correlating with elevated pulmonary artery pressure and reduced cardiac output (p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated lower survival rates for patients with Gal-3BP levels above the median (p<0.0001). Female patients averaged 58 years, with a 69% female study population.Conclusions: Gal-3BP is significantly elevated in PAH patients, correlating with disease severity and predicting survival, positioning it as a promising biomarker for PAH diagnosis and prognosis. Future studies should examine Gal-3BP's role in therapeutic response and refine its clinical application.