Serum Galectin-3 and Subsequent Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Subjects With Childhood-Onset Type 1 Diabetes: A Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE To study whether serum galectin-3 and other biomarkers of inflammation predict coronary heart disease (CHD) in subjects with long-standing childhood-onset type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A population-based nationwide cohort of 299 subjects with type 1 diabetes diagnosed in Norway at <15 years of age during 1973-1982 was examined in 2002-2003 at a mean age of 33 years (range 21-44), with mean diabetes duration of 24 years (range 19-30). Subjects were followed through 31 December 2017 for their first CHD event registered by a hospitalization or cause of death using nationwide registries. Stored serum samples were available for 296 subjects and analyzed for interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-6 receptor, IL-18, hs-CRP, matrix metalloproteinase-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), galectin-3, and high-sensitivity troponin T. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for CHD per SD increase in biomarker were estimated using Cox regression. RESULTS Of 295 subjects, 40 (13.6%) had a documented CHD event during a mean follow-up of 14.4 years (range 0.5-16). IL-6 (aHR 1.32 [95% CI 1.07-1.63]), galectin-3 (aHR 1.44 [95% CI 1.09-1.80]), and TIMP-1 (aHR 1.37 [95% CI 1.04-1.81]) were significant predictors of CHD after adjustment for conventional risk factors. CONCLUSIONS Galectin-3 was significantly associated with future CHD in subjects with type 1 diabetes, and if the results are replicated in larger studies, it may aid in prediction together with conventional risk factors for CHD.

Automated summary

The study aimed to investigate whether serum galectin-3 and other biomarkers of inflammation could predict coronary heart disease in subjects with long-standing childhood-onset type 1 diabetes. Results showed that IL-6, galectin-3, and TIMP-1 were significant predictors of CHD in these subjects, indicating their potential role in predicting CHD in conjunction with conventional risk factors.