To investigate whether GDF-15, TRANCE and TRAIL that were found to be linked with clinical atherosclerotic CVD were also associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, we correlated the expression of these three proteins with vascular inflammation determined by FDG uptake in the aorta and carotid arteries, and with CIMT and CCS, respectively, in patients without CVD and statin treatment (n = 36) (Fig. 2). Here, GDF15 is linked to atherosclerosis.