The association of circulating ferritin with serum concentrations of fibroblast growth factor-23 measured by three commercial assays.
BACKGROUND
The measurement of the serum concentration of fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is beginning to be used as a diagnostic tool in renal phosphate wasting disorders. Having observed an increased serum FGF-23 in three subjects with low circulating ferritin concentrations we investigated the association between low ferritin and raised serum FGF-23.


METHODS
We measured FGF-23 in 150 random anonymized serum samples with ferritin concentrations between <5 and 50 microg/L using three commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. One kit, Human FGF-23[C-term] (Immutopics Inc, USA) measures total FGF-23 whereas the other two kits, Immutopics intact and FGF-23 ELISA (Kainos, Japan) are reported to measure only the biologically active intact molecule.


RESULTS
We have detected a significant inverse correlation of -0.565 (P<0.0001) between serum ferritin when <50 microg/L and FGF-23 using the C-terminal assay. This relationship is also shown with the Immutopics intact assay but is not demonstrated with the Kainos intact assay.


CONCLUSIONS
The measurement of FGF-23 by both Immutopics assays is altered in the presence of low circulating concentrations of serum ferritin whereas with the Kainos intact assay this effect was not demonstrated. Serum ferritin should be measured when an elevated FGF-23 is obtained using the Immutopics C-terminal or intact FGF-23 assay to prevent misdiagnosis of the cause of this abnormality.
Durham
Brian H
BH
Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Metabolic Medicine, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, UK. b.h.durham@liv.ac.uk
Joseph
Frank
F
Bailey
Lisa M
LM
Fraser
William D
WD
D001681:Biological Assay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D000089703:Fibroblast Growth Factor-23; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D017674:Hypophosphatemia / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
C000717427:FGF23 protein, human; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012709:Serum Albumin; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D000089703:Fibroblast Growth Factor-23; D005293:Ferritins; D003404:Creatinine; D002118:Calcium