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Published on: January 28, 2020
Growth-differentiation factor-15 for risk stratification in patients with stable and unstable coronary heart disease:
Tibor Kempf1, Jan-Malte Sinning, Anja Quint
1Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Insights
Growth-differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) predicts coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in stable and acute patients. Higher GDF-15 levels indicate increased CHD mortality risk, improving risk prediction models.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomarkers
- Translational Medicine
Background:
- Growth-differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a stress-responsive cytokine.
- GDF-15 is a known prognostic biomarker in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) populations.
- Its predictive value in stable coronary heart disease (CHD) has not been previously assessed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the predictive role of GDF-15 in stable coronary heart disease (CHD).
- To evaluate GDF-15 as a prognostic biomarker across the spectrum of CHD.
Main Methods:
- Circulating GDF-15 levels were measured using immunoradiometric assay.
- Patients with stable angina pectoris (n=1352) and ACS (n=877) were followed for a median of 3.6 years.
- Cox-regression analysis adjusted for multiple clinical and biochemical variables.
Main Results:
- In stable angina patients, GDF-15 levels independently predicted CHD mortality (P<0.001).
- Elevated GDF-15 levels ( >1800 ng/L) were associated with significantly higher 3.6-year CHD mortality rates (15.0%).
- GDF-15 improved the prognostic accuracy of clinical risk prediction models for CHD mortality (c-statistic, 0.84 vs 0.74; P=0.005).
- GDF-15 did not predict nonfatal myocardial infarction risk.
Conclusions:
- GDF-15 is a strong and independent predictor of CHD mortality in both stable and unstable CHD patients.
- GDF-15 offers significant prognostic value across the spectrum of coronary heart disease.
- The study identifies GDF-15 as a key biomarker for assessing CHD mortality risk.
Background:
Growth-differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a stress-responsive transforming growth factor-beta-related cytokine that has emerged as a prognostic biomarker in acute coronary syndrome trial populations. Its predictive role in stable coronary heart disease (CHD) has never been assessed.
Methods And Results:
The circulating levels of GDF-15 were measured by immunoradiometric assay in patients with stable angina pectoris (n=1352) or acute coronary syndrome (n=877) who were followed up for a median of 3.6 years. Stable angina pectoris patients presenting with normal (<1200 ng/L), moderately elevated (1200 to 1800 ng/L), or markedly elevated (>1800 ng/L) GDF-15 levels had 3.6-year CHD mortality rates of 1.4%, 2.7%, and 15.0%, respectively (P<0.001). By backward stepwise Cox-regression analysis, which adjusted for age and gender, clinical variables, the number of diseased vessels, renal function, the levels of C-reactive protein, cardiac troponin I, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, GDF-15 remained an independent predictor of CHD mortality (P<0.001). Addition of GDF-15 improved the prognostic accuracy of a clinical risk prediction model concerning CHD mortality (c-statistic, 0.84 versus 0.74; P=0.005). Analysis of the acute coronary syndrome part of the study population confirmed GDF-15 as an independent predictor of CHD mortality (P<0.001). The circulating levels of GDF-15 did not predict the future risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction in patients with stable angina pectoris or acute coronary syndrome.
Conclusions:
This study identifies GDF-15 as a strong and independent predictor of CHD mortality across the broad spectrum of patients with stable and unstable CHD.
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