Circulating galectin‐1 concentrations in systemic sclerosis: potential contribution to digital vasculopathy

Aim To determine serum galectin-1 levels and their clinical associations in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Method Serum galectin-1 levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 66 patients with SSc and 24 healthy individuals. Results No significant differences were observed in serum galectin-1 levels between patients with SSc (9.4 ± 5.6 ng/mL), and healthy individuals (8.9 ± 1.3 ng/mL). Among patients with SSc, no significant differences were seen in serum galectin-1 levels between those with diffuse cutaneous SSc (8.8 ± 5.7 ng/mL; n = 31) and those with limited cutaneous SSc (10.0 ± 5.4 ng/mL; n = 35). Patients with SSc who had increased galectin-1 levels less often had pitting scars/digital ulcers than those with normal galectin-1 levels (17% vs. 49%; P < 0.01). Consistently, galectin-1 levels were significantly lower in SSc patients with pitting scars/digital ulcers than in those without pitting scars/digital ulcers (6.9 ± 4.8 vs. 10.9 ± 5.5 ng/mL; P < 0.01). Conclusion These results suggest that galectin-1 is a protective factor against the development of digital vasculopathy in SSc. In addition, measurement of serum galectin-1 levels may be useful for risk stratification for the development of digital vasculopathy in the early phase of SSc.