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The association of growth differentiation factor-15 with left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients

Hao Xue1, Zhenhong Fu, Yundai Chen

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China. xuehao301@hotmail.com

Plos One
|October 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Plasma Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) levels are elevated in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Higher GDF-15 is independently associated with increased left ventricular mass and wall thickness in hypertension.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) is recognized for its anti-hypertrophy effects.
  • The relationship between GDF-15 and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensive individuals remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between plasma GDF-15 levels and LVH in untreated hypertensive patients.
  • To determine if GDF-15 levels correlate with specific markers of cardiac remodeling in hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Plasma GDF-15 levels were measured in 299 untreated hypertensive patients (99 with LVH, 200 without LVH) via immunoradiometric assay.
  • Echocardiography was used to assess left ventricular (LV) dimensions, wall thickness, and ejection fraction.
  • Statistical analyses evaluated associations between GDF-15, LV mass index (LVMI), and LV wall thickness.

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive patients with LVH exhibited significantly higher plasma GDF-15 levels compared to those without LVH (median 1101 vs. 516 ng/L, P<0.001).
  • Plasma GDF-15 levels were independently associated with LVMI (R(2)=0.53, P<0.001), interventricular septal thickness (R(2)=0.23, P<0.01), and posterior wall thickness (R(2)=0.26, P<0.05) after covariate adjustment.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated plasma GDF-15 levels are associated with the presence of LVH in hypertensive patients.
  • GDF-15 may serve as a potential biomarker for cardiac hypertrophy in the context of hypertension.

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