Galectin-3 in Children with Chronic Heart Failure with Normal and Reduced Ejection Fraction: Relationship to Disease Severity.

Heart failure (HF) progression has not been studied in pediatric patients as well as HF in patients with a normal ejection fraction (HFNEF). We aimed to evaluate galactin-3 in children with HFNEF and reduced ejection fraction (HFREF) and its correlation to disease severity and progression. This cross-sectional study involved 45 chronic HF patients taking G1a (23 HFNEF children) and G1b (22 HFREF children) compared to 45 age- and sex-matched controls (G2) subjected to history taking, Ross functional HF classification, conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiographic systolic and diastolic function assessment (FS%, E/A, S , E /A , E/E ) and laboratory investigations [glomerular filtration rate, serum galactin-3 level (ELISA)].