Circulating Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) in Paediatric Disease: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Biochemistry
• Inflammation Research

Background:

• Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) is an inflammatory marker with roles in metabolism.
• Existing literature on GDF15 in pediatric populations is limited.
• GDF15 is of interest in adult conditions like cancer cachexia and pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and summarize existing pediatric studies on GDF15.
• To describe disease contexts where GDF15 has been investigated in children.
• To identify research gaps and suggest future directions for GDF15 in pediatrics.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA-ScR guidelines.
• Searched Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus.
• Included studies measuring GDF15 in individuals from birth to 18 years old.

Main Results:

• Analyzed 62 studies across various pediatric conditions (cardiac, endocrine, oncologic, etc.).
• Highest median GDF15 levels were found in cardiac arrest and mitochondrial diseases.
• GDF15 levels can normalize with treatment in conditions like Kawasaki Disease and PCOS.

Conclusions:

• GDF15 has been studied in diverse pediatric diseases.
• Methodological variability hinders direct comparison of GDF15 studies.
• Standardized GDF15 measurement is needed to clarify its diagnostic utility and therapeutic potential in children.