About the Authors

Rudolf A. de Boer

Contributed equally to this work with: Rudolf A. de Boer, Niek Verweij, Irene Mateo Leach, Pim van der Harst

Affiliation Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Niek Verweij

Contributed equally to this work with: Rudolf A. de Boer, Niek Verweij, Irene Mateo Leach, Pim van der Harst

Affiliation Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Dirk J. van Veldhuisen

Affiliation Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Harm-Jan Westra

Affiliation Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Stephan J. L. Bakker

Affiliation Department of Internal Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Ron T. Gansevoort

Affiliation Department of Internal Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Anneke C. Muller Kobold

Affiliation Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Wiek H. van Gilst

Affiliation Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Lude Franke

Affiliation Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Irene Mateo Leach

Contributed equally to this work with: Rudolf A. de Boer, Niek Verweij, Irene Mateo Leach, Pim van der Harst

Affiliation Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

Pim van der Harst

Contributed equally to this work with: Rudolf A. de Boer, Niek Verweij, Irene Mateo Leach, Pim van der Harst

p.van.der.harst@umcg.nl

Affiliations Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, Durrer Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Competing Interests

We have read the journal's policy and have the following potential conflicts of interest: BG Medicine, Inc., has certain rights related to galectin-3 measurements. BG Medicine Inc. provided an unrestricted research grant to the Department of Cardiology of the University Medical Centre Groningen. Drs. R.A. de Boer and D.J. van Veldhuisen have received consulting and speaker's fees from BG Medicine, Inc.

Author Contributions

Conceived and designed the experiments: RAdB NV IML PvdH. Performed the experiments: RAdB NV HJW SJLB ACMK LF IML PvdH. Analyzed the data: RAdB NV HJW SJLB ACMK LF IML PvdH. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: RAdB NV DJvV HJW SJLB RTG ACMK WHvG LF IML PvdH. Wrote the paper: RAdB NV IML PvdH. Read and commented on the earlier drafts of this manuscript: RAdB NV DJvV HJW SJLB RTG ACMK WHvG LF IML PvdH.