Association of Pentraxin-3, Galectin-3 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9/Timp-1 with Cardiovascular Risk in Renal Disease Patients.

Inflammation, apoptosis and extracellular remodeling play significant roles in cardiovascular disease (CVD) underlying the major causes of mortality in renal patients. In 19 pre-dialysis patients, 21 dialysis patients and 20 control subjects, the concentrations of pentraxin-3, galectin-3, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were determined by ELISA. CVD risk was calculated according to the Framingham risk score algorithm. Pentraxin-3 was increased in renal patients compared to healthy controls (p<0.001). In contrast, galectin-3 was reduced in hemodialysis patients compared to pre-dialysis patients and controls (p<0.001). In addition, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were elevated in renal patients compared to controls (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). Logistic regression analyses disclosed associations of galectin-3, MMP-9, pentraxin-3 and glomerular filtration with calculated CVD risk score. Combined testing of pentraxin-3, galectin-3, MMP-9 and glomerular filtration rate can discriminate renal patients with high and low risk of a coronary event.