title: Growth differentiation factor 15 plasma levels and outcome after ischemic stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a stress-responsive cytokine that is induced after experimental brain injury. We hypothesized that the circulating levels of GDF-15 are increased and associated with neurological outcome in patients with ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serial blood samples were obtained between 6 h and 7 days after symptom onset in 57 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke (n = 51) or transient ischemic attack (n = 6). GDF-15 was measured by immunoradiometric assay. Neurological outcome using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 7 and 90 days was classified as favorable (mRS 0 or 1) or unfavorable (mRS >1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hours after symptom onset, GDF-15 levels were abnormally high (>1,200 ng/l) in 68% of the patients. They declined by 8% over the course of 7 days (p < 0.001). GDF-15 levels were correlated with the circulating levels of the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 and the glial protein S100 calcium binding protein B, and with carotid intima-media thickness. Ischemic stroke patients with an mRS score >1 at 7 or 90 days had higher circulating levels of GDF-15 at all preceding sampling time points compared to patients with an mRS score of 0 or 1 (p ≤ 0.002). Similarly, in a logistic regression analysis, GDF-15 levels measured between 6 h and 7 days after symptom onset were associated with mRS at 7 and 90 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data show for the first time that the circulating levels of GDF-15 are elevated and associated with neurological outcome in patients with ischemic stroke.
authors: Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Worthmann
authors: Tibor
authors: T
authors: Kempf
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Widera
authors: Anita B
authors: AB
authors: Tryc
authors: Annemarie
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authors: Goldbecker
authors: Yue T
authors: YT
authors: Ma
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authors: Deb
authors: Argyro
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authors: Tountopoulou
authors: Jürgen
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authors: Lambrecht
authors: Meike
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authors: Heeren
authors: Ralf
authors: R
authors: Lichtinghagen
authors: Kai C
authors: KC
authors: Wollert
authors: Karin
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authors: Weissenborn