Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hemodialysis Patients

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a common cardiovascular complication and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular death in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Previous studies have shown that fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), which has an important role in phosphate metabolism, is elevated in HD patients. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the association of FGF23 and LVH and the prognostic value of serum FGF23 level in HD patients. One hundred seven HD patients were evaluated for LVH by echocardiography. Serum FGF23 levels were measured using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results: Patients with LVH were more likely to have higher systolic blood pressure (BP) and LVH was significantly associated with female gender and higher serum levels of phosphate and calcium ×phosphate products. LVH was also associated with higher serum FGF23 level. Multivariate analysis indicated that serum FGF23 level, systolic BP, and serum phosphate level remained correlated with LVH. This suggested that serum FGF23 level is independently associated with LVH in our HD patients. Cox analysis indicated no significant difference in risk of death for patients with elevated serum FGF23 level. Conclusion: LVH has a high prevalence in HD patients, and FGF23 is independently associated with LVH but is not a predictor for prognosis during a 4-year follow-up period.

Iron Indices and Mortality in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Background: The relationship between the iron indices and mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients has remained unclear. We performed a retrospective, observational cohort study to investigate the relationships between serum ferritin levels and mortality in MHD patients. Methods: MHD outpatients (n = 150) were followed up for a median period of 49 months. Their ESA and low-dose iron supplement dosages were adjusted to maintain their hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations in the 10 - 11 g/dl range in accordance with Japanese guidelines. The Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to perform the statistical analyses. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their serum ferritin levels: a serum ferritin 100 ng/ml group. Results: During the median follow-up period of 49 months, there were 55 deaths. The multivariate analysis showed no significant associations between the ferritin level groups and all-cause mortality or cardiovascular (CV) events, and the Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant differences among the 3 ferritin level groups in all-cause mortality and CV event rates. However, the multivariate analysis revealed that age, CRP level and a history of previous CV disease were independently associated with all-cause mortality, while diabetes, previous CV disease, and iron administration were independently associated with CV events. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed no significant associations of MHD patients between the ferritin ranges and all-cause mortality or CV events. Thus, the adverse clinical outcomes in these patients were independently associated with other markers and not with their serum ferritin levels.