Evaluation of Arterial Stiffness Parameters and Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Level in Patients with Premature Myocardial Infarction

Background: Myocardial infarction is increasing at a young age. New tools are needed to evaluate the risk population of young patients. GDF-15 has been implicated in several key mechanisms of atherogenesis and also is associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease. Arterial stiffness parameters, including pulse wave velocity, can also be measured using peripheral arterial tonometry and can indicate the presence or progression of atherosclerotic changes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the GDF-15 level and arterial stiffness parameters in patients with premature myocardial infarction Method: Thirty patients who recovered from a myocardial infarction were consecutively included. Fifteen age-sex-matched subjects were included as controls. The patients’ serum GDF-15 concentration levels were measured using relevant kits. Measurements of arterial stiffness [pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx)] were performed using a Mobil-O-Graph arteriography system. Results: GDF-15 concentration levels were significantly higher in the patients with premature myocardial infarction when compared to controls. PWV and AIx were similar between the groups. GDF-15 level was negatively correlated with high-density cholesterol (HDL) and positively correlated with uric acid levels in all study populations. Conclusions: GDF-15 levels may be a risk factor for patients with premature myocardial infarction. This pilot study may trigger further studies to elucidate the central role of GDF-15 in the pathophysiology of early atherosclerosis in the young population.