In multivariate Cox regression analysis after the one-year follow-up, cytokine biomarkers (GDF-15 [HR 2.45, 95% CI 1.01–5.94, P = 0.048], IL-6 [HR 3.02, 95% CI 1.05–8.64, P = 0.04], and EGF [HR 0.40, 95% CI 0.17–0.95, P = 0.04]) were significantly associated with CKD progression in the patients with IgAN in Table 3. Here, GDF15 is linked to chronic kidney disease.