Growth differentiation factor-15 in young sickle cell disease patients: Relation to hemolysis, iron overload and vascular complications

High expression of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) contributes to pathological iron overload in thalassemia. Sickle cell syndromes are characterized by increased levels of erythropoiesis, although the primary defect involves the destruction of mature erythrocytes. To determine serum GDF-15 in 35 children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) compared to 35 healthy controls and assess its relation to markers of hemolysis, iron overload and vascular complications. GDF-15 was measured and correlated to genotype, frequency of sickling crises, hydroxyurea therapy and serum ferritin. GDF-15 levels were increased in SCD patients whether sickle cell anemia or sickle β° thalassemia compared with controls (p