Fibroblast growth factor 23 and the future of phosphorus management.
OBJECTIVE
To present emerging data on the role of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in mineral metabolism and adverse outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD).


RESULTS
FGF23 regulates phosphorus and vitamin D metabolism. Its levels increase progressively beginning in early CKD, presumably as a physiological adaptation to maintain normal serum phosphate levels or normal phosphorus balance. FGF23 promotes phosphaturia and decreases production of calcitriol. Recent studies suggest that increased FGF23 is associated with mortality, left ventricular hypertrophy, endothelial dysfunction and progression of CKD. These results were consistently independent of serum phosphate levels.


CONCLUSIONS
FGF23 is emerging as a novel and exciting biomarker that may help identify which CKD patients might benefit most from aggressive management of disordered phosphorus metabolism. Future studies should determine whether increased FGF23 levels exert direct end-organ toxicity, such as in the heart, vessels and kidneys.
Wolf
Myles
M
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA. mwolf2@med.miami.edu
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000097:blood; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000089703:Fibroblast Growth Factor-23; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D054559:Hyperphosphatemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D018579:Patient Selection; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000401:mortality; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015415:Biomarkers; D002614:Chelating Agents; C000717427:FGF23 protein, human; D010758:Phosphorus; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D000089703:Fibroblast Growth Factor-23; D002117:Calcitriol