The evaluation of relationship between fibroblast growth factor-23, fetuin-a levels and arterial stiffness in chronic kidney disease

Aim of this study was to evaluate if there is relation between fetuin A, FGF-23 levels and arterial stiffness in chronic kidney disease (CKD).52 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (mean age 48±16 years, male/female; 26/26) and 31 healthy subjects (mean age 46±13 years, male/female; 15/16) as a control group, a total of 83 individuals were included in this study. Serum fetuin-A levels and plasma FGF-23 (fibroblast growth factor-23) levels measured in the blood samples obtained from individuals participating in the study and their pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured by Sphygmocor for the assessment of arterial stiffness.The mean Fetuin-A level in chronic kidney disease group were significantly lower than healthy control group (227.6±82 ng/mL vs. 291±128 ng/mL ng/mL, respectively, p<0.001). The mean FGF-23 level in the patient group were higher than the control group (485.7±806.5 pg/mL vs. 181.8±29.28 pg/mL, respectively, p <0.001). Mean PWV in the patient group was also significantly higher than those of the control group (7.9±2.1 m / s vs. 6.1±1.1 m/s, respectively, p<0.001). There was not a significant correlation between Fetuin-A and FGF-23 levels with PWV in chronic kidney disease group. In univariate analysis, PWV was shown that negatively correlated with serum albumin (r= -0.26, p <0.05) in patient group. It was shown that positively correlated with age (r= 0.7, p <0.001), total cholesterol (r =0.38 p <0.005) and LDL-cholesterol (r = 0.37, p <0.005) in the patient group. These parameters were correlated with PWV in univariate analysis. Multiple regression analysis of these parameters were still significantly correlated (Multipl R=0. 767, corrected R2=0.589, F=22.90, p<0.001).Because of the higher FGF-23 and PWV and low fetuin A levels in CKD patients compared to the control group may indicate increased cardiovascular risk in these patients.In CKD patients, the finding that fetuin A and FGF-23 levels was not correlated with PWV, show us other factors may play a role in arterial stiffness.