Cervantes-Álvarez, EduardoEduardoCervantes-ÁlvarezLimón-de la Rosa, NathalyNathalyLimón-de la RosaSalgado-de la Mora, MoisésMoisésSalgado-de la MoraValdez-Sandoval, PaolaPaolaValdez-SandovalPalacios-Jiménez, MildredMildredPalacios-JiménezRodríguez-Álvarez, FátimaFátimaRodríguez-ÁlvarezVera-Maldonado, Brenda I.Brenda I.Vera-MaldonadoAguirre-Aguilar, EduardoEduardoAguirre-AguilarEscobar-Valderrama, Juan ManuelJuan ManuelEscobar-ValderramaAlanis-Mendizabal, JorgeJorgeAlanis-MendizabalMéndez-Guerrero, OsvelyOsvelyMéndez-GuerreroTejeda Domínguez, FaridFaridTejeda DomínguezTorres-Ruíz, JiramJiramTorres-RuízGómez-Martín, DianaDianaGómez-MartínColborn, Kathryn L.Kathryn L.ColbornKershenobich, DavidDavidKershenobichHuang, Christene A.Christene A.HuangNavarro Álvarez, NaluNaluNavarro Álvarez2022-11-242022-11-242022https://scripta.up.edu.mx/handle/20.500.12552/217810.1038/s41598-022-05968-4Severe COVID-19 is associated with a systemic hyperinflammatory response leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), multi-organ failure, and death. Galectin-3 is a ß-galactoside binding lectin known to drive neutrophil infiltration and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines contributing to airway inflammation. Thus, we aimed to investigate the potential of galectin-3 as a biomarker of severe COVID-19 outcomes. We prospectively included 156 patients with RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19. A severe outcome was defined as the requirement of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and/or in-hospital death. A non-severe outcome was defined as discharge without IMV requirement. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine the prognostic ability of serum galectin-3 for a severe outcome. Galectin-3 levels discriminated well between severe and non-severe outcomes and correlated with markers of COVID-19 severity, (CRP, NLR, D-dimer, and neutrophil count). Using a forward-stepwise logistic regression analysis we identified galectin-3 [odds ratio (OR) 3.68 (95% CI 1.47–9.20),  < 0.01] to be an independent predictor of severe outcome. Furthermore, galectin-3 in combination with CRP, albumin and CT pulmonary affection > 50%, had significantly improved ability to predict severe outcomes [AUC 0.85 (95% CI 0.79–0.91, < 0.0001)]. Based on the evidence presented here, we recommend clinicians measure galectin-3 levels upon admission to facilitate allocation of appropriate resources in a timely manner to COVID-19 patients at highest risk of severe outcome.enResource Types::text::journal::journal article