Richter B, Uray T, Krychtiuk KA, et al. - Researchers examined the utility of circulating growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in predicting outcomes in 128 consecutive patients (median age 60.3yrs, 75.8% male) with return of spontaneous circulation after in- or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (CA). Death of a total of 52 patients (40.6%) was reported during the 6-month follow-up. Survivors vs non-survivors had significantly lower median GDF-15 levels. Furthermore, they observed significantly lower GDF-15 levels in patients with favorable neurological 6-month outcome than in those with poor neurological outcome. Findings thereby suggest the possible utility of GDF-15 in assessing the extent of hypoxic injury to the brain and other organs and in improving early risk stratification after CA.