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The association between serum levels of growth differentiation factor-15 and rheumatoid arthritis activity

Kamal Esalatmanesh1, Hamidreza Fayyazi1, Roozbeh Esalatmanesh1

  • 1Autoimmune Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.

International Journal of Clinical Practice
|June 2, 2020
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) shows promise as a biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity. Elevated serum GDF-15 levels accurately predict high RA disease activity, aiding in patient management.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Macrophages are key players in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis.
  • Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) regulates macrophage activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate serum GDF-15 as a potential biomarker for RA disease activity.
  • To correlate GDF-15 levels with varying degrees of RA activity.

Main Methods:

  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum GDF-15.
  • Study included 100 female RA patients and 55 healthy female controls.

Main Results:

  • Serum GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in RA patients with high disease activity (989.0 ± 161.9 pg/mL).
  • A GDF-15 cutoff >705 pg/mL predicted high RA activity with 96% sensitivity and 92% specificity.

Conclusions:

  • Serum GDF-15 levels can serve as a valuable biomarker for predicting high rheumatoid arthritis disease activity.
  • GDF-15 may assist in clinical assessment and management of RA patients.

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