Time-dependent, dynamic prediction of fatty acid-binding protein 4, Galectin-3, and soluble ST2 measurement with poor outcome after acute stroke.

Background: Time-dependent change in the level of biomarkers after stroke is not well understood. We sought to compare fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), Galectin-3, and soluble ST2 to ascertain for a change in prediction of outcome at admission and 48 h later.

Methods: Plasma FABP4, Galectin-3, and soluble ST2 were measured in biospecimens from acute stroke patients at the time of admission ( = 383) and 48 h later ( = 244). Functional outcome was assessed at 90 days using the modified Rankin Scale and dichotomized into good (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) and poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale 3-6).

Results: On admission, elevated levels of each biomarker predicted poor outcome (FABP4: OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.42-2.59,  < 0.0001; Galectin-3: OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.42-2.40,  < 0.0001; soluble ST2: OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.22-1.97,  < 0.0001) and death (FABP4: OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.51-3.98;  < 0.0001; Galectin-3: OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.50-3.30;  < 0.0001; soluble ST2: OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.58-2.99;  < 0.0001). At 48 h, soluble ST2 predicted poor outcome (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.77-3.88,  < 0.0001) and mortality (OR 3.36, 95% CI 2.06-5.48,  < 0.0001), and Galectin-3 predicted mortality only (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.05-3.10,  = 0.033). FABP4 measured at 48 h was not predictive of outcome or death. Associations of Galectin-3 and soluble ST2 with outcome or mortality were independent of age, sex, and NIHSS, whereas those with FABP4 were not.

Conclusions: Galectin-3 performed better when measured on admission, whereas soluble ST2 was predictive at admission and better at 48 h after stroke. The time-dependent differences may reflect the evolving role of these pathways after acute stroke.