Serum Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) Levels Reflect Ischemic Etiology in Heart Failure Patients with Iron...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Biochemistry
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) prevalence, especially ischemic HF, is rising globally.
• Non-anemic iron deficiency (ID) is common in HF patients, correlating with poorer outcomes.
• Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is linked to cardiovascular disease, HF, and iron metabolism, but its role in HF with ID is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential role of serum GDF15 in classifying HF patients with ID based on ischemic etiology.
• To explore the relationship between GDF15 levels and indicators of HF severity, functional capacity, and right ventricle function.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 60 HF patients with ID from the IRON-PATH II study.
• Measurement of serum GDF15 levels.
• Logistic regression models to assess GDF15's discriminative capacity for ischemic HF.
• Analysis of correlations between GDF15 and clinical parameters (TAPSE, 6MWT, NT-proBNP, creatinine, ferritin, hemoglobin).

Main Results:

• GDF15 levels were inversely correlated with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and the six-minute walking test (6MWT).
• GDF15 showed positive correlations with HF markers like N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), creatinine, and ferritin.
• GDF15 was inversely related to hemoglobin, suggesting a link to iron homeostasis.
• GDF15 demonstrated good classification capacity and enhanced a logistic regression model for identifying ischemic HF in patients with ID.

Conclusions:

• Serum GDF15 may serve as a valuable tool for classifying heart failure patients with iron deficiency according to ischemic etiology.
• GDF15 levels correlate with HF severity and impaired functional capacity in this patient group.
• Further research could establish GDF15 as a biomarker for risk stratification and management in HF with ID.