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The value of maternal serum levels of growth differentiation factor-15 as a predictor of preeclampsia

Back ground Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a stress-induced cytokine and related to the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases. It was expressed in the placentae of both normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. Objective To evaluate the value of GDF-15 as a predictor of preeclampsia and its correlation with the severity of the disease. Patients and methods This was a prospective study in which we enrolled a number of primigravidae at gestational age between 19 and 20 weeks. After complete and thorough history taking and examination in addition to basal ultrasound, serum blood samples were taken from all women and were frozen at −20°C for later assay. After Institutional Ethics Committee approval, antenatal care for all women till delivery was done. Women who developed preeclampsia, 40 of them, were chosen as the study group (group B), and 40 women who were passed the antenatal period without complications were included as the control group (group A). Results We found that serum levels of GDF-15 were higher in preeclamptic group than control group, and this reached a highly significant level. The mean±SD level of GDF-15 in the preeclamptic group was 383.42±130.67 versus 118.73±28.88 pg/ml in the control group (P=0.000). The more the severity of preeclampsia, the higher GDF-15 level, with the highest level being detected in severe–early preeclampsia. Conclusion GDF-15 is increased in preeclampsia than normal physiological pregnancy, with the highest level detected in severe–early preeclampsia.