Galectin-3 as the marker of hypertrophy and myocardial dysfunction in males with essential hypertension, carriers of polymorphic genes of angiotensin ii type 1 receptor

Abstract

One of the main etiological causes of development of heart failure is essential hypertension. The diagnosis of heart failure is usually made on the basis of comprehensive analysis of medical history, sonographic and biochemical examination. Normal ejection fraction does not exclude dyspnea of cardiac origin. Objective: to determine the role of galectin-3 as a marker of structural and functional changes of the myocardium in males with essential hypertension and CHF, carriers of polymorphic AT1R genes, residents of Podillya region of Ukraine. In this contingent, the surveyed were studied сoncentrations of galectin-3 and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), parameters of central and systemic hemodynamics in carriers of polymorphic variants of angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene (АТ1R) - individuals with no cardiovascular pathology (n=79), male patients with II-III degree essential hypertension (EH) and hypertrophy of the myocardium (n=62), and essential hypertension (n=50) complicated by chronic heart failure (CHF), residents of Podillya region of Ukraine, were studied. Genotyping of АТ1R gene was performed using polymerase chain reaction. Galectin-3 and brain natriuretic peptide levels were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Structural and functional parameters of myocardium were assessed by ultrasound using the apparatus “RADMIR ULTIMARA”. Statistical analysis of the results obtained was done on personal computer using standard statistical package Statistica 10.0. The data are represented as mean values (M) and standard deviations (±m). Carriers of C allele of angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene were found to be dominating among the males with essential hypertension and resultant myocardial hypertrophy. Concentrations of galectin-3 and brain natriuretic peptide were significantly higher in men with essential hypertension and essential hypertension associated with chronic heart failure, as compared to those with no cardiovascular diseases, as well as the carriers of C allele of angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene. It was found that concentrations of study biomarkers were higher in individuals with severe and eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy, as well as in those with decreased ejection fraction of the left ventricle. Therefore, those biomarkers can be used in complex diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension and the development of chronic heart failure in such patients.