Beta-thalassemia major requires regular blood transfusions throughout life, which in turn leads to iron accumulation in the body. While cardiac T2* MRI is the gold standard in determining cardiac iron accumulation, it is not always feasible, which has led to the search for new biomarkers. Herein, the value of growth differentiation factor-15, galectin-3, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in predicting cardiac iron accumulation is investigated in asymptomatic children with beta-thalassemia major.

Forty-one patients aged 11–21 years and 41 age-, gender-, body mass index-matched healthy controls were included. Serum growth differentiation factor-15, galectin-3, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels were compared between the patients and controls. Additionally, the relations of these biomarkers with cardiac and liver T2 * MRI were investigated in the patients.

In the patients, growth differentiation factor-15, galectin-3, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels were higher than healthy controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.025, p < 0.001, respectively). There were no significant correlations of growth differentiation factor-15 and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels with both cardiac and liver T2 * MRI measurements. While there was no significant correlation of serum galectin-3 with cardiac T2 * MRI measurements, a negative correlation was found with liver T2 * MRI measurements (p = 0.040, rho = –0.325).

All three biomarkers investigated in this study failed to predict myocardial iron accumulation in asymptomatic children with beta-thalassemia major. However, a weak relation between serum galectin-3 level and hepatic iron accumulation was demonstrated.

In this single-centre prospective study, we aimed to evaluate the role of growth differentiation factor-15 in children with acute rheumatic fever.

The study group included 25 children with acute rheumatic fever, and the control group included 25 healthy children. In addition to routine laboratory tests used in the diagnosis and treatment of acute rheumatic fever, growth differentiation factor-15 levels of the study group (at the time of diagnosis and after the treatment) and the control group were assessed and compared.

The mean growth differentiation factor-15 level of the study group at the time of diagnosis (918.40 ± 605.65 pg/ml) was significantly higher than the mean post-treatment level (653.08 ± 330.92 pg/ml) (p = 0.015). Similarly, the mean growth differentiation factor-15 level of the study group at the time of diagnosis was significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.04). However, mean growth differentiation factor-15 levels were similar between the groups after the treatment. Growth differentiation factor-15 was positively correlated with both C-reactive protein (p < 0.001) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.001) at the time of diagnosis.

Growth differentiation factor-15 levels are significantly increased in children with acute rheumatic fever at the time of diagnosis and return to similar levels with healthy children after treatment. Growth differentiation factor-15 is positively and significantly correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein at the time of diagnosis.

Growth differentiation factor-15 is a novel biomarker of increasing importance in cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between ventricular measurements assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and serum growth differentiation factor-15 levels in children with surgically corrected tetralogy of Fallot.

Serum growth differentiation factor-15 levels were measured in 40 patients (mean age: 15.2 ± 2.9 years; 52.5% male; 87.5% NYHA I). End-diastolic volume index, end-systolic volume index, and ejection fractions of both ventricles and pulmonary regurgitation fraction were measured on cardiac MRI. The correlation between growth differentiation factor-15 levels and cardiac MRI parameters of the patients was investigated. Also, growth differentiation factor-15 levels of the patients were compared with healthy controls since reference values have not been determined in children.

The mean growth differentiation factor-15 level was 254.9 ± 6.3 pg/ml in the patient group. There was no correlation between growth differentiation factor-15 levels and cardiac MRI parameters in patients. Also, there was no significant difference in growth differentiation factor-15 levels between the patients and control groups.

The serum levels of growth differentiation factor-15 were uncorrelated with ventricular size, function, and pulmonary regurgitation fraction assessed by cardiac MRI in children with operated tetralogy of Fallot. Moreover, growth differentiation factor-15 levels were not different in these patients from healthy children.