The predictive role of Galectin-3 and renal arterial resistive index in patients with lupus nephritis versus other glomerulopathies

Background Galectin-3 demonstrates multifunctionality with diverse biological roles. Its potential as a biomarker for inflammation and renal fibrosis has gathered attention. The renal doppler is commonly used as a guide for intrarenal arterial resistance and has a role in the differential diagnosis of various nephropathies. Their role in predicting and diagnosing lupus nephritis (LN) groups needs to be investigated. Method This is a cross-sectional study which included 90 patients and assigned into: group 1 (patients with SLE without nephritis (NN), group 2 (patients with nephritis other than SLE (GN) and group 3 (patients with LN). Serum Galectin-3 and renal doppler ultrasound were applied and correlated with other laboratory and histopathology data. Results Galectin-3 was significantly higher in LN group than GN group. Galectin-3 has no significant correlation with interlobar artery RI. in patients with LN, Galectin-3 has positive correlation with both of total percent of glomerulosclerosis and hyaline percent but no significant correlation with activity or chronicity indices. Also, total percent of glomerulosclerosis correlated positively with main artery. The chronicity index positively correlated with the main artery RI. On the other hand, no significant correlation was observed between main artery RI and activity index. Regarding patients with GN, total percent of glomerulosclerosis positively correlated with main artery RI. Interstitial fibrosis positively correlated with main artery RI. Galectin-3 has no statistically significant correlation interstitial fibrosis or tubular atrophy in GN group. Conclusion Galectin-3 was higher in LN patients than other causes of GN. However, its role as an inflammatory marker is not confirmed by our study in correlation with lupus biomarkers or histopathological activity. Results of renal artery doppler agreed with the previous studies. Main renal artery RI was significantly correlate with the percent of glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis in both LN and GN groups.