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Influence of the matrix type over the concentration of GDF-15
José Miguel Rivera-Caravaca1, Juan Antonio Vílchez2, Carlos Rodríguez-Rojas2
1Department of Cardiology, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, University of Murcia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIBArrixaca), CIBERCV, Murcia, Spain.
Insights
Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) can be accurately measured in citrate samples for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This finding supports the use of citrate tubes for GDF-15 analysis in AF research and clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Biomarker Analysis
- Cardiology
Background:
- Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) is a prognostic biomarker for bleeding and mortality in atrial fibrillation (AF).
- Standardized assays for GDF-15 typically use serum or EDTA matrices.
- The suitability of citrate matrices for GDF-15 measurement in AF remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the accuracy of the Elecsys GDF-15 assay in citrate samples.
- To compare GDF-15 levels in citrate samples with those in EDTA and serum matrices.
- To assess the feasibility of using citrate for GDF-15 determination in atrial fibrillation patients.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of GDF-15 levels using the Elecsys GDF-15 assay (Roche Diagnostics).
- Comparison of GDF-15 measurements across serum, EDTA, and citrate blood sample matrices.
- Inclusion of 10 healthy controls and 10 patients with atrial fibrillation.
Main Results:
- GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in AF patients compared to healthy controls.
- Excellent correlation was observed between EDTA-serum, EDTA-citrate, and serum-citrate samples in healthy controls.
- Good correlations were found between matrices in AF patients, supporting citrate's utility.
Conclusions:
- Citrate samples are suitable for accurate GDF-15 determination in atrial fibrillation patients.
- The findings support the use of citrate tubes for GDF-15 analysis in AF.
- Further validation studies are recommended to confirm these results.
Abstract:
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) has been suggested as a prognostic biomarker for bleeding and mortality in atrial fibrillation (AF). To date, serum and EDTA matrices are standardized for the GDF-15 assay but it is unclear if it can be measured also in citrate. In this study, we aim to investigate if the Elecsys GDF-15 assay (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) can be determined accurately in citrate samples in a cohort of 10 patients with AF and 10 healthy controls. From January 2018 to March 2018, we included healthy controls and patients with AF under vitamin K antagonists in a tertiary hospital. Blood samples were drawn in both groups. We included 10 controls (50% males, mean age 36.4±8.9 years) and 10 patients with AF (80% males, mean age 76.5±16.6 years). The mean GDF-15 levels were increased in patients with AF in comparison to healthy controls, as expected by the presence of a heart-related condition and the higher age of this population. In healthy controls, GDF-15 levels showed an optimal correlation between EDTA-serum (r=0.975; p<0.001), EDTA-citrate (r=0.972; p<0.001), and serum-citrate (r=0.997; p<0.001) samples. This was also observed in patients with AF: EDTA-serum (r=0.975; p<0.001), serum-citrate (r=0.835; p=0.003), and EDTA-citrate (r=0.768; p=0.009). Our results demonstrate that citrate samples may be used for the determination of GDF-15 in AF given the positive and good correlation with EDTA and serum matrices. Further studies should validate these observations.
