Serum Apelin-13 and Galectin-3 in COVID-19: Associations With Routine Biochemical Parameters and Diagnostic Performance in a Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND

Apelin-13 and Galectin-3 (Gal-3) are bioactive mediators linked to inflammation and cardiometabolic pathways. Their clinical utility in COVID-19 alongside routine laboratory tests remains unclear.

METHODS

In this case-control study, 89 adults were enrolled (COVID-19 negative controls, n = 44; COVID-19 positive patients confirmed by PCR and/or CT, n = 45). Serum Apelin-13 and Gal-3 were measured by ELISA, and routine biochemical parameters were obtained using automated analyzers. Group comparisons and correlation analyses were performed, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis assessed discriminatory performance.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, the COVID-19 group showed higher ALT (p = 0.046), GGT (p = 0.004), ALP (p = 0.001), total bilirubin (p = 0.008), direct bilirubin (p = 0.001), urea (p = 0.001), creatinine (p = 0.001), glucose (p = 0.001), and CRP (p = 0.001), and lower eGFR (p = 0.001), albumin (p = 0.010), and total cholesterol (p = 0.021). In controls, Apelin-13 correlated negatively with urea (r = -0.333, p = 0.027) and Gal-3 correlated negatively with cholesterol (r = -0.342, p = 0.023). In COVID-19 patients, Apelin-13 correlated positively with glucose (r = 0.320, p = 0.032) and negatively with sodium (r = -0.323, p = 0.030). ROC analysis showed limited diagnostic value for Gal-3 (AUC = 0.549; p = 0.426) and Apelin-13 (AUC = 0.533; p = 0.594).

CONCLUSIONS

Apelin-13 and Gal-3 showed limited associations with selected biochemical alterations in COVID-19, but neither biomarker demonstrated adequate standalone discriminatory performance.