Association between Growth Differentiation Factor 15 and Chronic Heart Failure

Mahmoud M. Abdullah, Haitham S. Ghareeb, Azza M. Al Amir, Khaled A. El Khashab

Background. Heart failure (HF) is a major health problem because it is common, and has a high rate of hospitalization and high rate of mortality. While substantial advances have been achieved in the treatment of heart failure over the past two decades, HF mortality remains as high as cancer mortality. Aim of the study To investigate the association between serum GDF-15 and chronic HF, and its potential usefulness as a biomarker in these patients. Patients and methods This study was conducted on a total of seventy nine patients at Fayoum University hospitals and was classified as : Fifty patients having the typical symptoms and signs of heart failure and diagnosed with either heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Twenty nine patients as control group. Blood samples for GDF-15 level were analyzed. The results demonstrated significant relation between elevated GDF-15 levels and HF patients in comparison to patients with no HF in the control group.. Conclusion: Our results suggest that GDF15 could be an independent marker for diagnosis, and management of patients with chronic heart failure.