[Impact of galectin 3 as myofibrosis marker in clinical cardiology].

Galectin 3 is a protein secreted by activated macrophages and has a role in development of fibrosis in injured tissues. Experimental studies showed increased galectin 3 secretion in the context of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure models. Several clinical studies identified galectin 3 to be a biomarker of cardiovascular diseases in the field of diagnosis, risk stratification, monitoring therapy response and predicting short-term and long-term prognosis. Particularly, the additional prognostic information of galectin 3 as assessed together with NT-proBNP was established in acute and chronic heart failure.