Serum Galectin-3 and Fibrosis Markers in Patients with Heart Failure at a Cardiology Unit in Katsina State

Galectin-3 is a lectin involved in myocardial fibrosis and cardiac remodelling, and its elevation in heart failure has been associated with worse clinical outcomes in global populations. This study evaluates serum galectin-3 and complementary fibrosis markers including TGF-beta1 and soluble ST2 in patients with heart failure at the cardiology unit of a federal medical centre in Katsina State, North West Nigeria. A cross-sectional analytical design was adopted, recruiting 90 patients with echocardiographically confirmed heart failure and 60 age-matched controls with no cardiac disease. Galectin-3, TGF-beta1, and sST2 were measured by ELISA. B-type natriuretic peptide, troponin I, and serum electrolytes were also determined. Echocardiographic parameters including left ventricular ejection fraction, interventricular septum thickness, and E/A ratio were obtained from clinical records. The New York Heart Association functional class was used to stratify clinical severity. Multivariate analysis determined independent biochemical predictors of heart failure severity. Findings will establish reference data for galectin-3 and related fibrosis markers in Nigerian heart failure patients and will contribute to the evidence base for their clinical application in sub-Saharan African cardiology settings. Keywords: galectin-3, heart failure, myocardial fibrosis, BNP, Katsina State.