Increased Serum Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Levels may be Associated with Diastolic Dysfunction in Acromegaly

Introduction: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a cytokine that is associated with various metabolic and cardiac changes. Acromegaly is a chronic multisystemic disease that causes cardiac dysfunction due to an increased levels of growth hormone. We evaluated the association of GDF-15 with diastolic dysfunction in acromegaly. Methods: Fifty-four patients with acromegaly [active (n=24), inactive (n=30)] and 34 healthy controls were included in the study. The acromegaly group (AG) and control group (CG) were compared for their blood pressures, metabolic parameters, GDF-15 levels, and echocardiographic findings. The correlation analysis was performed between the GDF-15 and the parameters that may be associated with it in the AG. Results: GDF-15 was significantly higher in AG than in the CG (p<0.001). GDF-15 was positively correlated with body mass index (r=0.4, p=0.008) and negatively correlated with fasting blood glucose (r=-0.4, p=0.004). GDF-15 was also positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r=0.4, p=0.002). Among echocardiographic findings, end-diastolic volume (EDV), and stroke volume (SV) were negatively correlated with GDF-15 levels (r=-0.4, p=0.003, and r=-0.4, p=0.03, respectively). Conclusion: GDF-15 was detected to be significantly increased in patients with acromegaly. This increment was associated with subtle changes in DBP, EDV, and SV. Therefore, GDF-15 may play a role in diastolic impairment at the cardiac involvement in acromegaly.