Level of the growth differentiation factor-15 in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Aim To reveal relationships between growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and laboratory and instrumental indexes in patients with myocardial infarction in acute phase. Material and methods The study included 118 patients younger than 70 years with ST-segment elevation or non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI). For these patients, GDF-15 was measured by enzyme immunoassay within 48 h of MI clinical onset along with a routine examination. Statistical significance of differences in qualitative variables was assessed by the Student’s t-test for normal distribution and by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test; significance of differences in quantitative variables was assessed by the Pearson’s chi-squared test. The presence of a relationship between quantitative variables was assessed with the Pearson’s correlation coefficient and the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results For patients with MI, mean GDF-15 concentration was 2.25±1.0 ng/ml. Moderate correlations were found for GDF-15 and levels of natriuretic peptide (r=0.36, p<0.01), white blood cells (r=0.32, p<0.01), and ejection fraction (Simpson rule) (r=-0.32, p<0.01); weak correlations were found with levels of troponin I (r=0.21, p=0.02) and urea (r=0.20, p=0.04), and interventricular septal thickness by echocardiography (r= -0.26, p<0.01). GDF-15 was higher in patients with ST-segment elevation MI (2.36±1.02 vs 1.99±0.96, p<0.05) and in the presence of hypo- or akinetic areas (2.35±1.05 vs 1.85±0.70, p<0.05). No dependence of GDF-15 on the presence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors was observed. Conclusion GDF-15 correlates with major markers of myocardial injury; its level is higher in patients with ST-segment elevation MI regardless of the infarct location.