GDF‐15 is associated with atherosclerosis in adults with transfusion‐dependent beta‐thalassemia

• Published in: EJHaem Vol. 3; no. 2; pp. 353 - 361
• Main Authors: Efat, Alaa, Wahb, Rana, Shoeib, Sabry Abd Allah, Dawod, Ashraf Abd ElRaof, Abd ElHafez, Mohamad Ahmed, Abd ElMohsen, Essam Ali, Elkholy, Aly
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.05.2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Arteriosclerosis; Atherosclerosis; Blood diseases; Blood tests; Blood transfusions; Cardiovascular disease; Carotid arteries; CIMT; Doppler effect; Ethics; Family medical history; GDF‐15; Genetic disorders; Heart failure; Hematology; Hemoglobin; Hypertension; Insulin resistance; Iron; Ischemia; Patients; Sickle Cell, Thrombosis, and Benign Haematology; Statistical analysis; Thalassemia; transfusion‐dependent beta‐thalassemic adults; Ultrasonic imaging; GDF‐15; transfusion‐dependent beta‐thalassemic adults; CIMT
• ISSN: 2688-6146; 2688-6146
• DOI: 10.1002/jha2.415

Objectives: To study serum growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15) serum level in β‐thalassemia patients and its relation to carotid intima‐media thickness. Background: Thalassemia is a common genetic disease resulting in decreased beta‐chains, leading to manifested anemia. It may be subsequently complicated by iron overload, which induces numerous morbidities and even death. Growth differentiation factor‐15 (GDF‐15) is a strong and independent predictor of mortality and disease progression in patients with atherosclerosis alongside with carotid‐intimal media thickness (CIMT). Patients and methods: This monocentric case‐control study was done on 90 subjects in the period from January 2020 to March 2021. Sixty transfusion‐dependent beta‐thalassemia (TDβT) cases (≥18 years) were selected from the thalassemia clinic of Hematology division at Menoufia University hospitals. We included also 30 sex and age matched healthy as the controls. Routine investigations were done beside. Serum GDF‐15 was measured by ELISA. CIMT was measured by Doppler Ultrasonography. Results: CIMT on both sides was statistically significant higher in cases (median of 0.08 cm) than in the controls (median of 0.04). GDF‐15 was also significantly higher in cases (median of 1839.89 pg/dl) than in controls (median of 256.14 pg/dl). So, we found that GDF‐15 is a predictor of and associated with atherosclerosis in thalassemic adults (OR = 39.198, p value 0.008, 95% CI: 2.576–596.5). Conclusion: GDF‐ 15 is increased in TDβT. CIMT (as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis) is increased in these patients alongside with GDF‐15, is a predictor, and associated with atherosclerosis in thalassemic adults.