Fibroblast Growth Factor 23, Endogenous Erythropoietin, Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents, and Erythropoietin Resistance in Hemodialysis Patients.

INTRODUCTION

Recent experimental studies have reported that fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) inhibits erythropoiesis by suppressing erythropoietin (EPO) production and downregulating the EPO receptor. Conversely, either endogenous or exogenous EPO has been shown to stimulate FGF23 production. However, little is known about the relationships between FGF23, erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) treatment, ESA resistance, and endogenous EPO in hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

We analyzed cross-sectional data from a cohort of 654 maintenance hemodialysis patients. We examined the associations of intact or C-terminal FGF23 with ESA treatment, ESA resistance index (ERI), hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, and endogenous EPO levels using linear regression models. EPO was measured only in patients not receiving ESAs.

RESULTS

A total of 458 patients (70%) were treated with ESAs. The median EPO concentration in non-ESA users was 7.8 (interquartile range, 5.3-14.4) mIU/mL. The median levels of intact and C-terminal FGF23 were 1,598 (interquartile range, 548-4,586) pg/mL and 38.7 (interquartile range, 14.0-127.6) pmol/L, respectively, in non-ESA users and 1,955 (interquartile range, 573-5,264) pg/mL and 41.4 (interquartile range, 13.9-116.8) pmol/L, respectively, in ESA users. After adjustment for potential confounders, higher ESA dose was associated with higher FGF23 levels measured by both intact and C-terminal assays. Higher C-terminal FGF23 was also associated with higher ERI, lower hemoglobin, and higher endogenous EPO, but no such associations were observed for intact FGF23 levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Both intact and C-terminal FGF23 showed similar associations with ESA dose, but they showed different patterns of association with other parameters related to anemia. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these different associations.