Growth differentiation factor-15 levels in the blood around the pulmonary artery is associated with hospitalization for heart failure in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Despite no significant differences of growth differentiation factor-15 expressions in peripheral, right atrial, and right ventricular blood, in the pulmonary arterial blood, there was a significantly high level of growth differentiation factor-15 in Group I pulmonary arterial hypertension patients subsequently developing heart failure. During right heart catheterization, collecting pulmonary blood samples is suggested to measure growth differentiation factor-15.