Background
Galectin‐3 is an inflammatory marker that is raised in myocardial fibrosis and inflammation. Recent studies have explored its role in predicting atrial fibrillation (AF) outcomes. The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis is to examine the association between serum concentration of galectin‐3 and AF.
Methods
PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database were searched. A total of 280 studies were identified, of which 28 studies involving 10 830 patients were included in our meta‐analysis.
Results
Galectin‐3 is present at higher concentrations in patients with AF than those in sinus rhythm (mean difference [MD] = −0.68 ng/mL, 95% CI: −0.92, −0.44, Z = 5.61, P < .00001). Galectin‐3 levels were significantly higher in the persistent AF than in the paroxysmal AF group (MD = −0.94 ng/mL, 95% CI: −1.85, −0.03, Z = 2.04, P = .04). Higher galectin‐3 levels were associated with a 45% increase in the odds of developing AF (odds ratio [OR] = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.83, Z = 3.11, P = .002) and risk of AF recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] =1.17, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.29, Z = 3.12, P = .002).
Conclusions
Our meta‐analysis found that galectin‐3 is significantly higher in patients with persistent AF than in those with paroxysmal AF, and can predict both AF development and recurrence after treatment.
Ca-125 was significantly higher in patients with AF than in those in sinus rhythm, and high Ca-125 is predictive of AF occurrence. However, the high heterogeneity observed means there is an uncertainty in the relationship between Ca-125 and AF, which needs to be confirmed by larger prospective studies.
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