{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "afa24fc1819e436d80de149201a9f101", "timestamp": "2026-07-22T14:33:46.212Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/afa24fc1819e436d80de149201a9f101.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/publication/afa24fc1819e436d80de149201a9f101"}}, "title": "Circulating GDF-15 levels predict future secondary manifestations of cardiovascular disease explicitly in women but not men with atherosclerosis.", "authors": [{"family": "Gohar", "given": "Aisha", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Gon\u00e7alves", "given": "Isabel", "initials": "I"}, {"family": "Vrijenhoek", "given": "Joyce", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "Haitjema", "given": "Saskia", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "van Koeverden", "given": "Ian", "initials": "I", "orcid": "0000-0003-4220-8611", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/656193ceae264ce7bc3a066715663435.json"}}, {"family": "Nilsson", "given": "Jan", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "de Borst", "given": "Gert J", "initials": "GJ"}, {"family": "de Vries", "given": "Jean-Paul", "initials": "JP"}, {"family": "Pasterkamp", "given": "Gerard", "initials": "G"}, {"family": "den Ruijter", "given": "Hester M", "initials": "HM"}, {"family": "Bj\u00f6rkbacka", "given": "Harry", "initials": "H", "orcid": "0000-0003-3918-0857", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications.scilifelab.se/researcher/9f4c07bc840f491d843f67a9932d5f3a.json"}}, {"family": "de Jager", "given": "Saskia C A", "initials": "SCA"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2017-08-15", "journal": {"title": "Int. J. Cardiol.", "issn": "1874-1754", "issn-l": "0167-5273", "volume": "241", "issue": null, "pages": "430-436"}, "abstract": "Elevated serum levels of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), is an established risk factor for a range of cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to evaluate the predictive value of plasma GDF-15 as a biomarker for secondary cardiovascular events (CVE) in patients with atherosclerosis undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Secondly, we determined whether plasma GDF-15 was associated with carotid plaque characteristics.\n\nCirculating GDF-15 levels were determined by Luminex assay in a cohort of 1056 patients from the Athero-Express biobank. Composite endpoint was defined as major CVE, death and peripheral vascular interventions. Findings were validated in 473 patients from the independent Carotid Plaque Imaging Project biobank.\n\nGDF-15 levels did not associate with secondary CVE in the total cohort. However, following a significant interaction with sex, it was found to be strongly, independently predictive of secondary CVE in women but not men (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1: HR 3.04 [95% CI 1.35-6.86], p=0.007 in women vs. HR 0.96 [95% CI 0.66-1.40], p=0.845 in men). This was also observed in the validation cohort (women: HR 2.28 [95% CI 1.04-5.05], p=0.041), albeit dependent upon renal function. In addition, GDF-15 was associated with the presence of plaque smooth muscle cells and calcification.\n\nHigh circulating GDF-15 levels are predictive of secondary CVE in women but not in men with carotid atherosclerotic disease undergoing CEA, suggesting a potential use for GDF-15 as a biomarker for secondary prevention in women. Sex differences in the role of GDF-15 in atherosclerotic disease deserve further interest.", "doi": "10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.03.101", "pmid": "28389123", "labels": {"Clinical Biomarkers": "Service", "PLA and Single Cell Proteomics": "Service", "Affinity Proteomics Uppsala": "Service"}, "xrefs": [{"db": "pii", "key": "S0167-5273(16)33754-8"}], "notes": [], "created": "2020-01-23T15:08:29.914Z", "modified": "2023-04-14T13:56:11.454Z"}