Assessment of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Levels on Coronary Flow in Patients with STEMI Undergoing Primary PCI

Growth Differentiation Factor-15 (GDF-15) is a strong predictor of decreased myocardial salvage and subsequent higher risk of death in patients with STEMI, but no information has been published regarding the association of GDF-15 levels with coronary blood flow in STEMI. We hypothesized that elevated GDF-15 levels would be associated with impaired flow and perfusion in the setting of STEMI treated with primary PCI. Eighty consecutive patients who were admitted with STEMI within 6 h from symptom onset were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based upon the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade. Group 1 was defined as TIMI Grade 0, 1 and 2 flows. Angiographic success was defined as TIMI 3 flow (group 2). GDF-15 and high sensitive CRP were measured. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as stent thrombosis, nonfatal myocardial infarction and in-hospital mortality. There were 35 patients (mean age 64 ± 11.8 and 20% female) in group 1 and 45 patients (mean age 66.8 ± 11.5 and 29% female) in group 2. GDF-15 and hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (1670 ± 831pg/mL vs. 733 ± 124 pg/mL, p < 0.001; and 19.8 ± 10.6 vs. 11.3 ± 4.9, p < 0.001). GDF-15 level ≥920 pg/mL measured on admission had a 94% sensitivity and 91% specificity in predicting no-reflow at ROC curve analysis. In-hospital MACE was also significantly higher in group 1 (28.6% vs. 2.2%, p: 0.001). Additionally, there was a significant correlation between hs-CRP and GDF-15 (r: 0.6030.56; p < 0.001). The GDF-15 level on admission is a strong and independent predictor of poor coronary blood flow following primary PCI and in hospital MACE among patients with STEMI. Except for predictive value, GDF-15 levels may be a useful biomarker for the stratification of risk in patients with STEMI, and may carry further therapeutic implications.