title: Fibroblast growth factor-23 levels are associated with vascular calcifications in peritoneal dialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) and vascular calcifications (VC) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed in 55 PD patients who underwent pelvic X-ray to assess for VC. Patients with and without linear calcifications were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients (27.3%) had linear calcifications on pelvic X-ray. FGF-23 levels were higher in patients with VC (299.5 (30.4-2,410.0) vs. 74.4 (14.8-1,030) pg/ml, p < 0.01). Diabetic patients had lower FGF-23 values (43.2 (14.9-134.0) vs. 103.5 (14.8-2,410) pg/ml, p < 0.01). Patients with residual renal function (RRF) had lower FGF-23 levels (70.6 (14.8-513) vs. 179.5 (30.4-2,410) pg/ml, p = 0.06); however, this did not reach statistical significance. FGF-23 levels, age, creatinine, Ca, dialysis duration and HbA1c were positively correlated with VC, whereas RRF, Ca intake and ALP were negatively associated. Multivariate logistic analysis confirmed FGF-23 levels, age, dialysis duration and RRF to be associated with VC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FGF-23 levels are associated with VC in PD patients. Further studies are needed to clarify whether it is simply a marker or a potential factor. It may prove to be an important therapeutic target for VC management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Pendik, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Asicioglu
authors.forename: Arzu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kahveci
authors.forename: Hakkı
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arikan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koc
authors.forename: Serhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuglular
authors.forename: Cetin Ishak
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Ozener
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D000089703:Fibroblast Growth Factor-23; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000717427:FGF23 protein, human; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D000089703:Fibroblast Growth Factor-23