Galectin-3 as a potential marker of myocardial hypertrophy in essential hypertension in individuals with polymorphic AT1R genotypes

Background: The potential use of plasma galectin-3 level as a of myocardial changes in the development of hypertrophy in males with essential hypertension (EH), carriers of polymorphic variants of II type 1 receptor gene, was studied. The level of brain peptide (BNP), as well as the parameters of central and systemic, and structural and functional parameters of the heart in carriers of polymorphic variants of II type 1 receptor gene, were studied as reference. Methods: The study included 79 individuals with no signs of cardiovascular disease, and 62 males with stage II EH, aged 40-60, who were residents of Ukraine. All patients were treated at the Military Medical Clinical Center of Central Region of Air Forces of Ukraine and Vinnytsia Regional Specialized Clinical Hospital of Radiation Protection of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, from December 2013 to June 2015. The patients were studied during their treatment at the in-patient department. Anesthetic, clinical and laboratory findings, and measures were entered into a special chart. Biochemical analyses were done upon admission of the patients to the hospital. Immunologic, and instrumental methods of examination were used as well. Statistical analyses of the results obtained were done on a personal computer using standard statistical package STATISTICA 10. Microsoft Excel was used for primary preparations of tables and intermediate calculations. Results: In patients with EH and myocardial hypertrophy, the C allele of angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene was found to be dominating. They had higher levels of both galectin-3 and BNP. The threshold levels of galectin-3 and BNP for screening diagnosis of EH with myocardial hypertrophy in males (who were residents of the Podillya region of Ukraine) were evaluated.