Serum Galectin-3 and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Levels in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury in Relation to Injury Severity and Prognosis.

BACKGROUND

This research aimed to assess the link between serum galectin-3 (Gal-3) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels and the severity and prognosis of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients.

METHODS

Serum Gal-3 and GFAP levels were measured in SCI patients. Serum Gal-3 and GFAP levels were analyzed in relation to SCI injury severity and prognosis. The prognostic value of serum Gal-3 and GFAP was assessed using ROC curve analysis.

RESULTS

The American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) categorized 59 patients into the severe SCI group (AIS A-B). Serum Gal-3 and GFAP levels were higher in patients with severe SCI than in patients with non-severe SCI. The 6-month follow-up AIS classified 60 patients as having a poor prognosis. Serum Gal-3 and GFAP levels were higher in poor-prognosis SCI patients than in good-prognosis SCI patients. A significant association between poor prognosis and serum Gal-3 and GFAP was demonstrated through multivariate logistic regression analysis. ROC curve analysis showed that the AUCs for serum Gal-3 and GFAP were 0.856 and 0.890, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum Gal-3 and GFAP levels are significantly associated with injury severity at admission and 6-month prognosis in SCI patients. Serum Gal-3 and GFAP levels can be used as clinical risk factors for predicting SCI injury severity and 6-month prognosis.