Yasuhiko Koga: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-15 Sho-wa Machi, Gunma, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan. Electronic address: ykoga@gunma-u.ac.jp.
Mitsuru Motegi: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fujioka General Hospital, 813-1, Nakakurisu, Gunma, Fujioka, 375-8503, Japan.
Akihiro Ono: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kiryu Kosei General Hospital, 6-3, Orihime-machi, Gunma, Kiryu, 376-0024, Japan.
Yoshimasa Hachisu: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, 389-1, Asakura-machi, Gunma, Maebashi, 371-0811, Japan.
Mitsuyoshi Utsugi: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gunma Saiseikai Maebashi Hospital, 564-1 Kamishinden-machi, Gunma, Maebashi, 371-0821, Japan.
Noriaki Sunaga: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-15 Sho-wa Machi, Gunma, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan.
Atsushi Takise: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, 389-1, Asakura-machi, Gunma, Maebashi, 371-0811, Japan.
Mari Sato: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-15 Sho-wa Machi, Gunma, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan.
Tomohito Kuwako: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shibukawa Medical Center, 383 Shirai, Shibukawa, 377-0280, Japan.
Takashi Osaki: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shibukawa Medical Center, 383 Shirai, Shibukawa, 377-0280, Japan.
Seishi Yoshimi: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tone Central Hospital, 910-1 Numasu-machi, Gunma, Numata, 378-0012, Japan.
Koichi Yamaguchi: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-39-15 Sho-wa Machi, Gunma, Maebashi, 371-8511, Japan.
Takeshi Hisada: Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22 Sho-wa Machi, Gunma, Maebashi, 371-8514, Japan.
Kyoichi Kaira: Department of Respiratory Medicine, International Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, 1397-1 Yamane, Saitama, Hidaka-shi, 350-1298, Japan.
Both serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid levels of galectin-3 (Gal-3) are elevated in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Phase II study on inhaler with Gal-3 inhibitor for IPF has been ongoing. In this study, 30 treatment-naive patients of IPF were prospectively enrolled and their sera were stored before and after nintedanib treatment. Though Gal-3 levels tended to increase after nintedanib treatment, in some patients, Gal-3 levels decreased immediately after the treatment. patients whose serum Gal-3 levels decreased 1 month after nintedanib treatment tended to experience a smaller annual decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) than patients with increased Gal-3 levels. Furthermore, the rate of change in Gal-3 levels 1 month after nintedanib treatment positively correlated with the rate of annual FVC decline, whereas that of other fibrotic markers did not correlate with the rate of annual FVC decline. This study suggested that a decline in serum Gal-3 levels immediately after nintedanib treatment may predict less progression of IPF treated with nintedanib.
