GDF-15 Levels in Gouty Arthritis and Correlations with Decreasing Renal Function: A Clinical Study

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Gouty arthritis (GA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder frequently linked to systemic inflammation and impaired kidney function. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has been suggested as a potential biomarker involved in both inflammatory responses and...

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Main Authors: Osman Cure, Ertugrul Yigit, Merve Huner Yigit, Hakki Uzun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1767
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author Osman Cure
Ertugrul Yigit
Merve Huner Yigit
Hakki Uzun
author_facet Osman Cure
Ertugrul Yigit
Merve Huner Yigit
Hakki Uzun
author_sort Osman Cure
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Gouty arthritis (GA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder frequently linked to systemic inflammation and impaired kidney function. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has been suggested as a potential biomarker involved in both inflammatory responses and renal dysfunction. Studies on GDF-15 serum levels and renal function decline in GA patients are limited. This study aimed to investigate serum GDF-15 levels in patients with GA and to evaluate the relationship between GDF-15 and renal function parameters. <b>Methods</b>: This prospective case–control study included 60 (intercritical group: 30; acute attack group: 30) patients with gout arthritis and 60 healthy controls, matched for body mass index and sex. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measured serum GDF-15, and renal function and inflammatory markers were also assessed. Group comparisons used non-parametric tests, Spearman’s analysis evaluated correlations, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis assessed diagnostic performance. <b>Results</b>: Serum GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in GA patients than controls (<i>p</i> < 0.001), especially during acute attacks. GDF-15 correlated moderately with renal function markers. ROC analysis showed high diagnostic accuracy for both acute (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.98) and intercritical gout phases (AUC = 0.96). <b>Conclusions</b>: Serum GDF-15 levels are increased in patients with gouty arthritis and are associated with impaired renal function. GDF-15 may serve as a helpful biomarker for disease activity and renal involvement in GA, but its interpretation should be considered in conjunction with other clinical and laboratory parameters.
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spelling doaj-art-af64d3c0dafb4a22baa2497a642aef302025-08-20T03:36:34ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592025-07-01137176710.3390/biomedicines13071767GDF-15 Levels in Gouty Arthritis and Correlations with Decreasing Renal Function: A Clinical StudyOsman Cure0Ertugrul Yigit1Merve Huner Yigit2Hakki Uzun3Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize 53000, TurkeyDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon 61080, TurkeyDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize 53000, TurkeyDepartment of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Rize 53000, Turkey<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Gouty arthritis (GA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder frequently linked to systemic inflammation and impaired kidney function. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has been suggested as a potential biomarker involved in both inflammatory responses and renal dysfunction. Studies on GDF-15 serum levels and renal function decline in GA patients are limited. This study aimed to investigate serum GDF-15 levels in patients with GA and to evaluate the relationship between GDF-15 and renal function parameters. <b>Methods</b>: This prospective case–control study included 60 (intercritical group: 30; acute attack group: 30) patients with gout arthritis and 60 healthy controls, matched for body mass index and sex. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measured serum GDF-15, and renal function and inflammatory markers were also assessed. Group comparisons used non-parametric tests, Spearman’s analysis evaluated correlations, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis assessed diagnostic performance. <b>Results</b>: Serum GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in GA patients than controls (<i>p</i> < 0.001), especially during acute attacks. GDF-15 correlated moderately with renal function markers. ROC analysis showed high diagnostic accuracy for both acute (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.98) and intercritical gout phases (AUC = 0.96). <b>Conclusions</b>: Serum GDF-15 levels are increased in patients with gouty arthritis and are associated with impaired renal function. GDF-15 may serve as a helpful biomarker for disease activity and renal involvement in GA, but its interpretation should be considered in conjunction with other clinical and laboratory parameters.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1767GDF-15gouty arthritisrenal functionbiomarkerinflammation
spellingShingle Osman Cure
Ertugrul Yigit
Merve Huner Yigit
Hakki Uzun
GDF-15 Levels in Gouty Arthritis and Correlations with Decreasing Renal Function: A Clinical Study
Biomedicines
GDF-15
gouty arthritis
renal function
biomarker
inflammation
title GDF-15 Levels in Gouty Arthritis and Correlations with Decreasing Renal Function: A Clinical Study
title_full GDF-15 Levels in Gouty Arthritis and Correlations with Decreasing Renal Function: A Clinical Study
title_fullStr GDF-15 Levels in Gouty Arthritis and Correlations with Decreasing Renal Function: A Clinical Study
title_full_unstemmed GDF-15 Levels in Gouty Arthritis and Correlations with Decreasing Renal Function: A Clinical Study
title_short GDF-15 Levels in Gouty Arthritis and Correlations with Decreasing Renal Function: A Clinical Study
title_sort gdf 15 levels in gouty arthritis and correlations with decreasing renal function a clinical study
topic GDF-15
gouty arthritis
renal function
biomarker
inflammation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1767
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AT mervehuneryigit gdf15levelsingoutyarthritisandcorrelationswithdecreasingrenalfunctionaclinicalstudy
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