Association between plasma growth differentiation factor 15 levels and pre‐eclampsia in China

• Published in: Chronic diseases and translational medicine Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 140 - 145
• Main Authors: Xu, Shuhong, Lu, Yicheng, Yao, Mengxin, Yang, Zhuoqiao, Chen, Yan, Ding, Yaling, Xiao, Yue, Liang, Fei, Qian, Jiani, Ma, Jinchun, Liu, Songliang, Yan, Shilan, Yin, Jieyun, Ma, Qiuping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, The First People's Hospital of TaiCang, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China%Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistic, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Major Chronic Non-communicable Diseases, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China%Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China%Department of Chronic Disease, Gusu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China%Huzhou First People's Hospital, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China 01.06.2024; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: growth differentiation factor 15; macrophage inhibiting cytokine 1; Original; pre‐eclampsia; macrophage inhibiting cytokine 1; growth differentiation factor 15; pre‐eclampsia; pre-eclampsia
• ISSN: 2589-0514; 2095-882X; 2589-0514
• DOI: 10.1002/cdt3.126

Background Growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15) is a stress response protein and is related to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study aimed to investigate the association between GDF‐15 and pre‐eclampsia (PE). Method The study involved 299 pregnant women, out of which 236 had normal pregnancies, while 63 participants had PE. Maternal serum levels of GDF‐15 were measured by using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kits and then translated into multiple of median (MOM) to avoid the influence of gestational week at blood sampling. Logistic models were performed to estimate the association between GDF‐15 MOM and PE, presenting as odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results MOM of GDF‐15 in PE participants was higher compared with controls (1.588 vs. 1.000, p < 0.001). In the logistic model, pregnant women with higher MOM of GDF‐15 (>1) had a 4.74‐fold (95% CI = 2.23–10.08, p < 0.001) increased risk of PE, adjusted by age, preconceptional body mass index, gravidity, and parity. Conclusions These results demonstrated that higher levels of serum GDF‐15 were associated with PE. GDF‐15 may serve as a biomarker for diagnosing PE. Box diagram of multiple of median (MOM) of growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15) from early‐onset pre‐eclampsia (PE), late‐onset PE, PE, and control. Key points Growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15) is associated with increased risk of pre‐eclampsia. GDF‐15 may be a potential biomarker of pre‐eclampsia.