GDF-15: Can It Be Used as a Biomarker in Acute Cerebrovascular Incidents?

Background/

Objectives

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a protein that belongs to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily and has been found elevated in cases of organ injury such as liver, kidney, heart, and lung, as well as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a protein which is expressed mainly on immune cells and endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and is a marker of severity and intensity of inflammation in acute and chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to compare GDF-15 serum levels between patients with acute cerebrovascular incidents and healthy controls and to investigate the possible correlation of GDF-15 serum levels and inflammatory markers, such as serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasma suPAR, in the above-mentioned groups.

Methods

This is a retrospective study. Thirty-one patients were included in the study, with a mean age ± SD of 67 ± 13 years, compared to 18 age-matched healthy controls.

Results

In the patient group a statistically significant positive correlation of serum levels of GDF15 values with suPAR and CRP emerged (rs = 0.516, p = 0.003) and (rs = 0.409, p = 0.022), respectively, and no significant correlation was found in the group of controls (rs = 0.271, p = 0.277) and (rs = 0.423, p = 0.080), respectively.

Conclusions

These findings support the role of inflammation as a key underlying mechanism in acute cerebrovascular injury and suggest that GDF-15 may serve as a valuable adjunct biomarker for assessing disease severity and inflammatory burden.