Investigating the Role of Growth Differentiation Factor-15 as a Biomarker of Inflammation in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

These results suggest that serum GDF-15, but not IL-6, is a strong candidate for use as a biomarker of atherosclerotic vascular disease and may allow for earlier risk factor modification to help prevent disease onset and progression. Large-scale studies aimed at determining whether a rising GDF-15 is an indication of worsening outcome in a wider spectrum of patients with vascular disease are clearly warranted.