Serum Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Levels in School‐Aged Children Born Preterm

Preterm birth increases the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) throughout life, from childhood to adulthood; however, this association is particularly strong during childhood [1].Nevertheless, the pathophysiology of renal dysfunction in school-aged children born preterm remains poorly understood, and biomarkers to predict long-term renal prognosis have not yet been established.Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a cytokine induced by cellular stress, including mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation, and its circulating levels increase with age [2].Recently, elevated serum GDF15 levels were shown to be associated with CKD progression in children [3].In this context, in the present study, we investigated the association between serum GDF15 and renal function in school-aged children born preterm.