Galectin-3 is associated with the functional outcome and mortality in stroke patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Xiaoling Han; Bingbing Geng; Feiyan Deng; Ying Ma; Ningning Fan; Shaomin Huang; Ming Xue; Lei Wu; Bixia Li; Shaoqin Liao; Qiao Ye; Yu Liu

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13279

Galectin-3 is associated with the functional outcome and mortality in stroke patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Heliyon. 2023 Jan 26;9(2):e13279. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13279. eCollection 2023 Feb.

Authors

Xiaoling Han¹, Bingbing Geng¹, Feiyan Deng¹, Ying Ma¹, Ningning Fan², Shaomin Huang², Ming Xue¹, Lei Wu¹, Bixia Li¹, Shaoqin Liao¹, Qiao Ye³, Yu Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ Interventional Medical Center, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai People's Hospital of Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
² Ophthalmology Department, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
³ Nursing Department, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.

Abstract

Introduction: There is still a lack of sensitive predictive tools for stroke outcomes. High galectin-3 concentration is associated with an increased risk of stroke. This study investigated the relationship between blood galectin-3 levels and stroke prognosis.

Methods: The PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched as of May 2021. Data from eligible studies on the relationship between galectin-3 and stroke prognosis were extracted for the meta-analysis.

Results: The outcomes included the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), mortality rate, and prognostic accuracy of galectin-3 on mRS after stroke. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were used to assess the association between galectin-3 and the prognostic outcomes. Subgroup analysis based on the study design was performed to evaluate the correlation of galectin-3 with mRS and mortality. A random-effects model was adopted for this meta-analysis. A total of 5 studies involving 3607 stroke patients were included. Higher serum galectin-3 level was associated with mRS (OR [95% CI]: 2.02 [1.08, 3.77]) and mortality (OR [95% CI]: 2.17 [1.17, 4.02]) after stroke. Subgroup analysis revealed a similar relationship between galectin-3 and mRS for both prospective and retrospective studies. There were no associations between galectin-3 level and mortality rate in prospective studies. Galectin-3 had a good predictive ability on mRS after stroke (AUC: 0.88, 95% CI:0.85, 0.91).

Conclusion: Elevated blood galectin-3 levels were associated with prognostic outcomes after stroke, including functional outcome mRS and mortality rate. Moreover, galectin-3 had a good predictive ability for the prognosis of stroke.

Keywords: Functional outcome; Galectin-3; Meta-analysis; Prognosis; Stroke.

Publication types

Review