Circulating levels of growth differentiation factor-15 and its genetic variants -3148C>G (rs4808793) in pediatric...

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a stress-responsive cytokine. Though less extensively studied in children than in adults, recent evidence highlights the potential value of GDF-15 in pediatric cardiology.

To assess the serum GDF-15 levels and the genetic profile of GDF-15 rs4808793 among children with cardiac diseases.

This case-control study included 100 pediatric cardiac patients and 50 healthy controls. GDF-15 rs4808793 (-3148C>G) single-nucleotide polymorphism was tested via restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction technique, and serum GDF-15 was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.

Of the 69 children with various types of congenital heart diseases (CHD), 14 patients had rheumatic heart disease, and 17 had cardiomyopathy. About 50% of patients had heart failure. Significantly higher mean serum GDF-15 among patients compared to the controls, P < 0.001. Heart failure patients had significantly higher serum GDF-15 than those who didn't, P < 0.001. CC-genotype and C-allele of rs4808793 were significantly more frequent among cardiac patients compared to the controls (P = 0.002). C-allele of rs4808793 was associated with an increased CHD risk (odds ratio = 2.812, 95% confidence interval: 1.648-4.799).

GDF-15 is a promising biomarker in predicting congenital heart disease and heart failure in children. The genetic variants of GDF-15 (rs4808793) were significantly associated with CHD risk.