Circulating Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Correlates with Myocardial Fibrosis in Patients with Non-Ischaemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Decreases Rapidly After Left Ventricular Assist Device Support

Abstract

High circulating levels of GDF-15 in patients with end-stage non-ischaemic DCM correlate with myocardial fibrosis and kidney function and decline strongly after 1 month of mechanical unloading, remaining stable thereafter. However, cardiac mRNA and protein expression of GDF-15 are very low, suggesting that the heart is not an important source of GDF-15 production in these patients.