Growth differentiation factor-15 predicts mortality and morbidity after cardiac resynchronization therapy

Aims The aim of this study was to determine whether growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) predicts mortality and morbidity after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Growth differentiation factor-15, a transforming growth factor-β-related cytokine which is up-regulated in cardiomyocytes via multiple stress pathways, predicts mortality in patients with heart failure treated pharmacologically. Methods and results Growth differentiation factor-15 was measured before and 360 days (median) after implantation in 158 patients with heart failure [age 68 ± 11 years (mean ± SD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 23.1 ± 9.8%, New York Class Association (NYHA) class III ( n = 117) or IV ( n = 41), and QRS 153.9 ± 28.2 ms] undergoing CRT and followed up for a maximum of 5.4 years for events. In a stepwise Cox proportional hazards model with bootstrapping, adopting log GDF-15, log NT pro-BNP, LVEF, and NYHA class as independent variables, only log GDF-15 [hazard ratio (HR), 3.76; P = 0.0049] and log NT pro-BNP (HR, 2.12; P = 0.0171) remained in the final model. In the latter, the bias-corrected slope was 0.85, the optimism ( O ) was −0.06, and the c -statistic was 0.74, indicating excellent internal validity. In univariate analyses, log GDF-15 [HR, 5.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.31–11.9; likelihood ratio (LR) χ 2 = 14.6; P < 0.0001], NT pro-BNP (HR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.55–5.26; LR χ 2 = 10.4; P = 0.0004), and the combination of both biomarkers (HR, 7.03; 95% CI, 2.91–17.5; LR χ 2 = 19.1; P < 0.0001) emerged as significant predictors. The biomarker combination was associated with the highest LR χ 2 for all endpoints. Conclusion Pre-implant GDF-15 is a strong predictor of mortality and morbidity after CRT, independent of NT pro-BNP. The predictive value of these analytes is enhanced by combined measurement.