Serum Galectin-3 as a Prognostic Biomarker in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study
Main Article Content
Keywords
Stroke, Galectin-3, Ischemic Stroke, Prognosis , Inflammation., Biomarkers
Abstract
Background: Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with a particularly high burden in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. Early identification of biomarkers, such as serum Galectin-3, which plays a role in inflammation and tissue remodeling, may improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes in acute ischemic stroke. This study aimed to compare serum Galectin-3 levels between patients with acute ischemic stroke and age- and sex-matched stroke-free controls.
Methodology: A prospective comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. A total of 100 first-ever acute ischemic stroke patients and 100 apparently healthy controls were recruited. Serum Galectin-3 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed to compare Galectin-3 levels between groups using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 24.0.
Results: The median serum Galectin-3 level was significantly higher in stroke patients compared to controls [60 (55.00–63.00) vs 56 (49.00–62.00), p = 0.003]. The two groups were comparable in age and sex distribution, but hypertension and diabetes were significantly more prevalent among stroke patients. Elevated serum Galectin-3 levels were positively associated with stroke diagnosis.
Conclusion: Serum Galectin-3 is significantly elevated in acute ischemic stroke patients compared to stroke-free individuals. Galectin-3 could serve as an important biomarker for acute ischemic stroke, aiding in timely diagnosis and management.
References
2. Feigin VL, Norrving B, Mensah GA. Global burden of stroke. Circ Res. 2017;120(3):439–48.
3. World Health Organization. Global Health Estimates 2019. Geneva: WHO; 2020.
4. Campbell BCV, Khatri P. Stroke. Lancet. 2020;396(10244):129–42. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31179-X
5. Owolabi L. Dominant modifiable risk factors for stroke in Ghana and Nigeria (SIREN): a case-control study. Lancet Glob Health. 2018;6(4):e436–46. doi:10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30002-0
6. Kanu FC, Akinyemi D, Binuyo OT, Uche EO, Agunloye AM, Onwuchekwa AC, et al. An 18-year retrospective study of the profile of stroke survivors at tertiary hospitals in South-Southern Nigeria. J Nat Sci Med. 2025;8(1):29–36. doi:10.4103/jnsm.jnsm_102_24
7. Akinyemi RO, Ovbiagele B, Adeniji OA, et al. Stroke in Africa: Profile, progress, prospects and priorities. Nat Rev Neurol. 2021;17(10):634–56. doi:10.1038/s41582-021-00542-4
8. Lekoubou A, Nkoke C, Dzudie A, Kengne AP. Stroke admission and case fatality in an urban medical unit in sub-Saharan Africa: a fourteen-year trend study from 1999 to 2012. J Neurol Sci. 2015;350(1–2):24–32. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2015.02.002
9. Kayode-Iyasere E, Odiase FE. A seven-year retrospective review of stroke admissions in Benin City, Southern Nigeria. Ann Health Res. 2019;5(1):11–9. doi:10.30442/ahr.0501-2-32
10. Sanya EO, Desalu OO, Adepoju F, Aderibigbe SA, Shittu A, Olaosebikan O. Prevalence of stroke in three semi-urban communities in middle-belt region of Nigeria: a door-to-door survey. Pan Afr Med J. 2015;20:33. doi:10.11604/pamj.2015.20.33.4594
11. Ekeh B, Ogunniyi A, Isamade E, Ekrikpo U. Stroke mortality and its predictors in a Nigerian teaching hospital. Afr Health Sci. 2015;15(1):74–81. doi:10.4314/ahs.v15i1.10
12. Sciacchitano S, Lavra L, Morgante A, et al. Galectin-3: One molecule for an alphabet of diseases, from A to Z. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(2):379. doi:10.3390/ijms19020379
13. Zhuang JJ, Zhou L, Zheng YH, Ding YS. Serum galectin-3 levels are associated with the severity and prognosis of ischemic stroke. Aging (Albany NY). 2021;13(5):7454–64. doi:10.18632/aging.202610
14. Qu J, Tan J, Zhou Q, et al. Galectin-3 in stroke: mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives. Brain Res Bull. 2020;161:114–20. doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.05.005
15. Wang A, Wang Y, Liu J, et al. Serum galectin-3 and prognosis after ischemic stroke. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2018;24(12):1113–21. doi:10.1111/cns.13044
16. Williams B, Mancia G, Spiering W, et al. 2018 ESC/ESH Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. Eur Heart J. 2018;39(33):3021–104. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehy339
17. Bakare AK. Admission serum galectin-3 and its relationship with acute ischaemic stroke outcome in Ilorin, Nigeria [dissertation]. Ilorin (NG): University of Ilorin; 2022.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This is an open-access journal and articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike License 4.0. This licence allows users to download and share, remix, tweak and build upon the article for non-commercial purposes, so long as the original authorship is acknowledged and the new creations are licensed under identical terms.