Association between Growth Differentiation Factor 15 and Cardiovascular Risk in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF 15) is one of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family, which is released from different cells under conditions of stress. Increased levels of GDF-15 are associated with cardiovascular diseases and are related to the progression and prognosis of the disease. Aim: the aim of the present study was to determine the correlation between serum GDF15 level and cardiovascular risk in patients with type2 DM using Framingham risk score (FRS). Subjects and methods: this study included three groups: control group (n=20), prediabetic group (n=30) and diabetic group (n=30). The participants have been subjected to laboratory investigations including serum levels of GDF15, measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). FRS was calculated through using the 10-year CHD Risk Framingham Tables. Results: there was a statistically significant increase in serum GDF 15 in diabetic and prediabetic groups in comparison to the control group (p= 0.006, p= 0.025) sequentially and serum GDF15 was significantly positively correlated with FRS in both the diabetic and prediabetic groups (r= 0.44, p=0.015and r= 0.38, p=0.04) sequentially. Conclusion: Serum GDF15 level may be a useful clinical biomarker for predicting cardiovascular risk in patients with type2 DM.